WINTER NEWSLETTER ❄️

Winter is the most wonderful time of the year . . . until the festivities come to a close. Now, winter's chill probably has you counting down the days until spring. But the first months of the year do provide an opportunity to slow down and prepare for the busy year ahead.

That might mean making room for the new by clearing out what is not longer needed. Gifted a set of dishes this Christmas? Don't forget to take down the old plates and bowls from your cabinets to donate. Set yourself up for success in 2026 by staying ahead of any clutter now.

Here at Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, we're reflecting on the past year's accomplishments and strategically planning for the year to come. From opening Melrose Plaza and The Excel Center, to assisting job seekers through Career Navigation and opening two new stores, 2025 was a busy year. In 2026, we will strive to maintain and build upon the past year's growth while adapting our operations to best serve our region.

Cheers to another industrious year of service! 🎉

Since opening in August 2025, The Excel Center has transformed the lives of adult learners by providing a flexible, supportive pathway to earn a high school diploma and gain career-ready skills.

Chris Haning, an Excel Center Teacher says, "I love the fact that we can pull people out of poverty and bring them skills and training and certifications to advance them and advance their families in the community. So far, the students have been overwhelmingly enthusiastic, supportive.”

All of our students faced obstacles to their education in their younger years. One of our students, Ben Emery, says, "I was dealing with some addiction issues, and I could not focus on school at all." At the age of 16, Ben dropped out of high school and had put off his education for years. However, when the Excel Center opened, he realized it was exactly the opportunity he had been looking for to complete his high school education.

On his experience at The Excel Center, Ben says, "I found it was giving me purpose and giving me a reason to make it day through day. They make you work for it, but it's rewarding and you feel like you're actually accomplishing something."

In the video below, Keyaira Williams shares her personal story as a student at The Excel Center and how returning to school helped her overcome challenges and move closer to her goals.

Our testimonials illustrate the impact of our services highlighting not only academic achievement but also renewed confidence, opportunities for career advancement, and personal growth.

At The Excel Center, every adult learner receives the wraparound support needed to stay engaged, overcome barriers, and reach graduation. Among our 59 current students:

Childcare: 6 students (10%) rely on on-site childcare services so they can focus on their education.
Transportation Assistance: 32 students (54%) use transportation support to get to and from school consistently.
Life Coaching: All students (100%) work with a dedicated Life Coach who provides personalized guidance, goal-setting, and ongoing support throughout their journey.

These services make it possible for adult learners to succeed in the classroom and beyond. By donating and shopping at Goodwill Industries of the Valleys stores, you are directly investing in adult education that will lead to better employment opportunities for our graduates and increased contribution to their communities.

From line dancing to open art studio hours and community events, there are many opportunities to check out at the Melrose Plaza in Northwest Roanoke.

Keep up to date on all events and classes by visiting the event calendar . We're excited the Harrison Museum will officially open its doors in February at Melrose Plaza.

We've recently extended our hours and are now open 8AM-8PM Monday through Friday, 10AM-7PM on Saturday and 12PM-5PM on Sunday.

CLOSET CLEANOUT

Stuck indoors? Now's the time to make space for your spring wardrobe. Set aside clothes you don't see yourself wearing this new year. But don't toss them! Donate all your gently used clothes to your local Goodwill . There's nothing like the feeling of dropping off boxes of clothing and then going home to an organized closet filled with the clothes that bring you joy.

Don't forget to look through your shoes. It can be all too easy to accumulate a collection of seldom worn shoes. Think back to the last time you wore each pair. More than a year ago? Might be time to put them in the donation box.

Ever wonder what happens to your items after you donate to Goodwill? Click the video to the left and go behind the scenes from the donation drop-off to customers falling in love with your donation.

Did you know that if a donation does not go home with a customer within 4 weeks, it will be transported to one of our two Outlet store locations? At our Outlet stores in Harrisonburg and Salem, most items are sold by the pound and wheeled out in frequently rotating bins throughout the day. Items at the Outlets can be a real steal for our savvy shoppers.

Donations that do not sell at an Outlet store are then baled at our warehouses and sold to an aftermarket. Clothes might be recycled into textiles and the soles of shoes utilized for recycled rubber. This maximizes sustainability by keeping donations out of landfills—as much as 10 to 13 million pounds each year. At Goodwill, each and every donation has a purpose.

NEW BOARD OFFICERS & DIRECTORS

We're excited to announce Goodwill Industries of the Valleys' new board members for 2026 as well as our new board officers.

Our four new board members are:

Angela Joyner,
PhD, Vice President of Economic Development and Corporate Education at Radford University

Helen Cauthen,
President of the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development

Nadia Dames, President and CEO of UMA, Inc

Earl B. Reynolds, Jr.,
Deputy City Manager, City of Danville

2026 Board Officers:

Chair: Jeremy Longshore is the Owner/Agency Principal, Burgess DeMarco & Flick Insurance
Vice Chair/Treasurer: Angelia Vernon, Executive Performance Administrator, City of Roanoke
Secretary: Melissa Lubin, PhD, Dean of the UVA School of Continuing and Professional Studies