See what's going on at Goodwill this September ...
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Goodwill Begins Development of Region's First Food Forest at the Growing Goodwill Community Garden (Roanoke)

Work has begun to bring the region's first Food Forest, to the Growing Goodwill Community Garden. A collaboration with the Roanoke Community Garden Association, the Food Forest will consist of a variety of fruit trees, including Cherry, Persimmon, Apple, Pear, and Hazelnut. 

Swales, low tracts of land, have been dug along the hillside adjacent to the existing garden bed as a means of water conservation and sustainable irrigation. The swales will collect and infiltrate rainwater to create high-moisture microclimates useful for establishing and growing the fruit trees that are planned for the Food Forest. This ability to concentrate soil moisture enables vegetation to grow without high maintenance and supplemental water needs. Planting is scheduled to begin in October.

Mark Powell, Director and Founder of the Roanoke Community Garden Association commented on social media recently that this project turns "vacant land into a place of abundance and community and cooperation." 

Frank Rogen, Chief Development Officer for Goodwill, explains the importance of the Food Forest,"the neighborhood is in a food desert, which means that we do not have a good grocery store with fresh produce in the neighborhood. These trees will produce select fruits and nuts that anyone can harvest without any charge." The Food Forest is part of a larger plan to revitalize the neighborhood, while bringing neighbors together and helping people become healthier.

The Growing Goodwill Community Garden is located at the corner of 24th Street and Salem Turnpike, behind the Goodwill Jobs Campus, and is currently being utilized by 30 community gardeners.

For more information on the Growing Goodwill Community Garden, click here.

For more information about the Food Forest, contact:
Elizabeth Milne, Marketing and Community Relations Manager
Email: [email protected]
Office: (540) 581.0620 ext. 174  |  (540) 613.2481 

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Goodwill's Good Choice Companions Now Offering Personal Care Services (Roanoke and Salem)

Good Choice Companions, a division of Goodwill
Industries of the Valleys, is is now able to provide hands on serves such as transferring and personal hygienne services in addition to the companion care services previously available.

In the past, Good Choice Companions helped with many tasks around the house, provided medication reminders, light housekeeping, help with pet care, transportation for appointments and errands, and much more. With the new license, Good Choice Companions can now help with services such as bathing, dressing, toiling, and other personal hygiene services, as well as transferring.

"We are excited to expand our services because we can now extend our care to even more individuals," states Angela Stanfill, Director of Good Choice Companions. "We are no longer simply a 'companion service.' The Virginia Department of Health has awarded Good Choice Companions a license to provide hands on care to those that need it as well."

Good Choice Companions is committed to providing quality companion and personal care services to individuals in Roanoke and Salem who need assistance to remain independent. Qualified and trained companions provide services to seniors and other individuals who need extra assistance; helping them feel comfortable and allowing them to remain independent in their home.

For more information on Good Choice Companions, click here.

For more information on Good Choice Companions contact:
Angie Stanfill, Director of Companion Care, Good Choice Companions
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (540) 632.1389
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Goodwill Holding Informational Breakfast for Reality Check Program (Roanoke)

Goodwill will be holding a breakfast at the Roanoke Jobs Center to inform local local businesses of how they can benefit from involvement in Reality Check. Attendees will receive information about:
  • What Reality Check is
  • How Current businesses support and participate in the program
  • How their business will benefit from involvement with Reality Check
Reality Check is an interactive financial fitness forum that teaches area youth that responsibilities in life extend beyond portable communication devices, video games, and hanging out with friends. Reality Check is available throughout Goodwill's 31 counties, 13 cities service area.

Reality Check Informational Breakfast:
When: Tuesday, September 22nd
Time: 9am to 11am
Where: Goodwill's Roanoke Jobs Campus
     2502 Melrose Avenue NW, Suite C

For more information about Reality Check, click here.








For information on the Informational Breakfast, contact:
Stephanie Hoer, Youth and Day Support Services Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (540) 581-0620 ext. 143 
jGoodwill Provides Job Seeker Services to Help the Community Get Back to Work

Goodwill hosts a variety of Job Seeker Services to help individuals in the community get back to work and improve their employment opportunities. Among these services are a variety of computer classes, workshops, job clubs, and job fairs. All events are free and open to the public with prior registration.
 

Upcoming Job Seeker Services:
Roanoke Jobs Campus - upcoming events include job fairs, ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, computer classes, job readiness classes, and more.
2502 Melrose Avenue NW, Suite B
 
Charlottesville Workforce Center - upcoming events include job search
workshops, one-on-one computer classes, and more.
2211 Hydraulic Road Charlottesville

Harrisonburg Workforce Center - upcoming events include networking and money matter workshops, one-on-one computer classes, and more.
160 North Mason Street, Harrisonburg 

For scheduled events and more information on Job Seeker Services, click here . 

For a list of available computer classes,  click here.

For more information on Job Seeker Services contact:
Elizabeth Milne, Marketing and Community Relations Manager

Email: [email protected]

Office: (540) 581.0620 ext. 174  |  Cell Phone: (540) 613.2481
kUpcoming Photo and Video Opportunities
 
Upcoming Goodwill Events:

"Real Goodwill" Tour:
September 23rd & October 1st, 8:30am
Roanoke Jobs Campus, 2502 Melrose Avenue SW, Roanoke 
For more information, click here.
  
Job Fairs at the Melrose Jobs Campus,  2502 Melrose Avenue NW, Suite B
Roanoke:
Security Force, Inc. Hiring Event, September 17th, 10am - 12pm
Mountain Valley Transportation Job Fair, September 23rd, 10am - 12pm
For more information on Job Fairs,  click here.

Job Fairs at Career Connection:
Panda Express, September 21st, 9am - 4pm, Christiansburg, 265A Pepper's Ferry Road NE
Staffmark, September 22nd, 2pm - 5pm, Harrisonburg, 2025 E. Market Street
Healthcare Fair, September 22nd, 2pm - 5pm, Christiansburg, 265A Pepper's Ferry Road NE 

Good Choice Companions Blood Pressure Checks in Goodwill Stores:

Specialized Day Support (SDS) and Adult Developmental Learning Services (ADLS) Activities:
ADLS Pet Therepy, September 18th, 2502 Melrose Avenue, NW, Suite B, Roanoke
Outing to Ikenberry Orchards, September 22nd, 9:30am, 2557 Roanoke Road, Daleville
SDS Outing to 5 Below, September 24th, 10am, 1397 Towne Square Boulevard NW, Roanoke
SDS Pet Therapy, September 25th, 2502 Melrose Avenue NW, Suite B, Roanoke
For more information on Medicaid Waiver Programs,   click here.

GoodGuides Mentoring Program Activities:
Mikro Marathon, September 19th, 7am - 12pm, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 30 Huntington Boulevard NE, Roanoke
Track Time, September 21st, 6pm, Lucy Addison Middle School, 1 220 5th Street NW, Roanoke
Movie Premier with J May, September 24th, 6pm, 2502 Melrose Avenue NW Suite C, Roanoke
Mentor Potluck and Fellowship, September 27th, 3pm, Goodwill 2502 Melrose Avenue NW Ste C, Roanoke
For more information on GoodGuides, click here. 

For more information on upcoming events, click here. 

For more information on Photo and Video Opportunities contact:
Elizabeth Milne, Marketing and Community Relations Manager

Email: [email protected]

Office: (540) 581.0620 ext. 174  |  Cell Phone: (540) 613.2481

General Goodwill Information

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, a United Way partner organization headquartered in Roanoke, serves 31 counties and 13 cities in the New River, Roanoke, and Shenandoah Valleys. Its mission is to help people and families in our community achieve a better life through work and independence. In 2014, Goodwill assisted thousands of individuals and in this difficult employment market placed 3,662 people into jobs in our community. Through the end of August, Goodwill has assisted over 34,000 people in 2015, who are in need of job training and employment assistance. 

                      
                        
Goodwill Mission
Helping people and families in our community achieve a better life through work and independence.
Goodwill Vision
Through the work of Goodwill all people with have the opportunity to achieve their greatest potential.

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys