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Reasons for Employment

The Goodwill Industries is not a factory in the commercial sense of the word, nor is it an employment agency in that it is simply in business to give work to people. Basic reasons for employment in Goodwill Industries are:

a. economic need.
b. vocational training.
c. therapeutic value of employment given.

Service to be Rendered

The statement of the purpose of Goodwill Industries indicated that its primary interest is the development of the personality of handicapped and needy persons and that its largest personal service is made possible through contacts occasioned with individuals because of economic need. The services to be rendered to such persons, then, must not only afford them work and wages but should also assist them and members of their families to the development of the highest physical, intellectual, vocational, social, and spiritual usefulness of which they are capable. These services include:

a. employment.

b. vocational training.

c. placement in industry or self-employment.

d. life guidance.

e. individual case work.

f. individual and group activities providing for intellectual, cultural, and spiritual development.

g. social and recreational activities.

h. health, educational and physical development.

i. occupational and physiotherapy.

j. co-operative purchasing for workers.

k. improvement of housing.

1. development of agricultural projects and summer camps for workers and families.

m. minor or emergency service for those employed temporarily including temporary employment for specific time or purpose, the bartering of labor for needed merchandise in Goodwill stores, individual case work, reference service, and employment placement.

n. direct relief but only in emergency and special situations and then only until arrangements can be completed for the client to receive relief through regular relief agencies.

Co-operation

Goodwill Industries are working together with other agencies in serving less fortunate people and, therefore, have very definite responsibilities to co-operate with such agencies both in planning of the program of Goodwill Industries to carry out its basic purpose and in extending its activities to help meet unmet needs. It shall be the policy of Goodwill Industries:

a. to affiliate with the local Council of Social Agencies.

b. to clear and register all its cases through the local Social Service Exchange in accordance with the policies of that Exchange.

c. to co-operate with and take an active part in all social planning in the local community affecting the types of service involved in any of the Goodwill Industries' activities.

d. to affiliate with State and National Conferences of Social Work and with other local, state and national groups or organizations serving the handicapped.

e. to affiliate with the local Council of Churches and co-operate in all activities of the Council, giving special attention to church social service and to mission and missionary activities in the community immediately surrounding the Goodwill Industries.

The above policies on services of Goodwill Industries do not necessarily mean that every Goodwill Industries must render all services indicated nor that any Goodwill Industries is rendering all services listed. They rather suggest the types of service which Goodwill Industries must be equipped to render if they are to help the persons they serve attain their highest usefulness. As caseworking agencies, Goodwill Industries do of necessity utilize all resources of the community and do establish specialized services within their own organization only when the interests of Goodwill workers are best served by such establishment.

Conclusion

This report may have seemed to ramble just a bit, but it seemed wise to do just that -- a word about the purpose of Goodwill Industries, the "figures of the year," some basic policies which should be of interest to all who read this report; a word of appreciation to the Board of Home Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church for its vision years ago in putting a million dollars into the establishment of Goodwill Industries over the country, and for its continuing co-operation through these years; to the executives and leaders of Goodwill Industries whose patience and assistance year after year have made possible the presentations of the reports published by this department, and to all who have contributed in any way to the service of Goodwill; and an especial word of appreciation to Dr. E. J. Helms, that man of God who has been the inspiration of all leaders in the movement and without whose leadership there would have been no Goodwill Industries. And now this report is closed with the concluding statement of the public relations policies of Goodwill Industries, which suggests that while the primary purpose of Goodwill Industries is to help handicapped and needy persons to realize a more abundant life through its service programs, it has an "equally if not more important purpose of helping to develop an understanding, appreciation, and application of the principles and ideals of Jesus Christ in order that poverty and need may be reduced to a minimum and social and economic justice enjoyed by all."