It seems fitting that the start of the New Year is always closely followed by Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Not only is the day a reminder of Dr. King's legacy, but it's also a challenge to everyone to commit to service and the fight for what is right in our community. To me, that's a great way to kick off a New Year.

There's a quote by Dr. King that I've been thinking about a lot lately, and I recently shared it with Goodman staff: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

At Goodman, we answer this question every day. We support the community, providing access to resources. We're mentors to children and teens. We uplift older adults. And so much more. We do this with the support of everyone in our community – that includes you.

If you haven't already reflected on Dr. King's legacy, I challenge you to take a moment and do that now. What are you doing to Be the Good for others? I bet you, like my colleagues here at Goodman, have a long list of service in action. I also know we can always do more to make sure everyone has the resources they need to be successful.

We're going to keep up the fight here at GCC, and I hope you'll come along with us.

Thank you for your support in 2022. I'm excited for what 2023 has in store for this community.

With gratitude,

A solid estate plan is one of the best things you can have for yourself and your loved ones, but getting your estate in order can sound like a monumental and stressful task. It doesn't have to be! Attend this free workshop, presented by Michelle Behnke, principal of the firm Michelle Behnke & Associates, for a helpful overview on planning your estate, including covering many of the circumstances to be aware of when making legacy plans.

Anyone is welcome to join us for this free workshop. Registration is encouraged but not required, and drop-ins are welcome on the day of the event!

Questions? Contact Dani Luckett, Chief Development Officer, at dani@goodmancenter.org or 608-204-8059.

The Older Adult Meet & Greet is back! Join us for this fun and casual gathering, where you can meet some new friends and have a great time.

Enjoy music, dancing, appetizers, beer, wine and door prizes. Learn about fun events and social networking groups around Dane County — even find one to join!

Tickets can be purchased at the door, or you can register in advance by contacting Older Adult Program Manager Gayle at gayle@goodmancenter.org or 608-204-8032.

At Goodman, play is serious business. After all, it's how our preschoolers build a foundation of social-emotional skills that will help them take on the world today, tomorrow and well into their future. These kids may be small, but their teachers need to have BIG skills. Goodman teachers are so much more than just babysitters. They're helping our kids navigate their emotions and daily challenges with joy, compassion and respect.

Pick up the January/February issue of Eastside News, on newsstands now, to learn more. Or read the story online here.

There was no place jollier on Dec. 13 than our Older Adult holiday party and lunch at our Ironworks building!

Guests spent the afternoon eating, dancing, laughing and chatting with friends old and new to the sounds of favorite local band Paris Blues Band. The Sassy Steppers also swung by and gave a wonderful performance, which inspired everyone to bust out their holiday dancing shoes.

Thank you to all who made the party a season highlight!

Demand on our food pantry has been really high, which means some days customers have to wait a little longer than normal. Pantry Manager Francesca had an idea to make that wait a little more pleasant. She created two new stations to make our customers feel comfortable and welcome.

First up is the pastry and coffee table, where customers can help themselves to a snack and hot beverage while they wait. Then there's the kid play space, a corner filled with coloring books and puzzles and other activities to help occupy kiddos shopping with their parents.

Interested in helping out our pantry? Take a look at the current list of most-needed items or order something off our Amazon wish list.

Just before Goodman closed for winter break, Poké-Mì, a restaurant located at Global Market & Food Hall on Madison's east side provided more than 100 meals to our food pantry customers. It was a welcome treat for our shoppers. Big thanks to the owners and their staff for their generosity!

And, if you haven't had a chance to check out Global Market & Food Hall, do yourself a favor and make a trip for lunch one day. It's a favorite spot of many Goodman staff!

Do you have a hard time keeping our buildings straight? Remembering which is Ironworks and which is Brassworks? Grab a brand new campus map brochure, created by Goodman's talented graphic designer Beth. You can find the maps at front desk for a visual on the programs and services we offer, and where everything takes place.

We have to give a big thank you to TDS Telecommunications for their multiple donations to our food pantry throughout December. TDS made both a monetary donation and delivered bags of groceries from their yearly food drive to our pantry.

We are so grateful to have been included in their season of giving this year!

We had another successful holiday season, providing gifts to more than 200 kids who attend Goodman programs. We couldn't do it without the support of the many families, individuals, businesses and organizations who pitch in to make sure every kid and family is taken care of.

Special shout-out to Rotary Club of Madison, Madtown Juniors, St. Olaf Catholic Church, the Madison Office of Fredrikson & Byron and Badgers Give Back.

Everyone involved brought a lot of joy to our community!

The Goodman Center has some of the best benefits in town – no joke. In addition to an incredible health care plan (better than what some much bigger businesses in town offer, we've been told by our staff) and generous retirement matching, Goodman also offers more than 5 weeks of paid time off in your first year, free childcare for kids in preschool and attending Lowell or Emerson elementary schools, and more.

Our food pantry is open three days a week to anyone who needs it.

Interested in helping our food pantry serve our community? Check out our list of most-needed items.

Questions? Contact Francesca at francesca@goodmancenter.org or 608-204-8049.

608.241.1574 | info@goodmancenter.org | goodmancenter.org

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