Since 1919, Goodwill has believed in the transformational power of work. Through the years our services have changed to respond to the needs of the times. We began by helping people with disabilities or disadvantages repair donated items. We helped connect our neighbors with basic services during the Great Depression and we were proud to provide training and jobs for wounded soldiers coming back from World War II. We trained people on computers when technology became part of the American workforce, and during recessions we have been instrumental in connecting people to jobs.
Although services have changed, our belief in the power of work has remained constant. At Goodwill Central Coast, we effect change on several fronts: removing obstacles to employment; supporting job seekers on every step of their journey; creating jobs within our own retail sector; guiding people on the road to financial self-sufficiency; and instituting a reuse-repurpose economy that helps to preserve the Earth’s resources.
Also unchanged is the power of donations. Your generosity fuels everything we do at Goodwill Central Coast. Our ability to evaluate, train, coach, and support individuals with barriers to employment hinges on community support in the form of gently used items that can serve a higher purpose for someone else. Your involvement helps create a ripple effect of positive change that extends beyond the individuals directly impacted, making our community a better place for everyone.
GCC continues to thrive
The year 2023 proved to be one of remarkable growth for Goodwill Central Coast. Out of 154 Goodwills worldwide, GCC ranked No. 6 in donations per household and No. 4 in sales per household!
Other major accomplishments include the following:
- Retail revenue rose 4.7 percent to $37.5 million.
- Mission Services helped 17,172 people, up 62 percent
- Opportunity Platform expanded to all counties, helping 3,027 people (up from 289).
- Employees underwent 3,149 hours of training, and our Retail Training Academy opened in Santa Cruz.
- GCC invested nearly $4 million in employee benefits, while maintaining all starting wages above minimum wage.
From despair to fulfillment
Every day at GCC we witness real-life success stories from people in the community who reach out for help.
For more than a decade, Jessie Call found herself “couch-surfing” from house to house, sleeping in whatever spare space became available. She could not keep a job for more than a few months, and went from one toxic relationship to the next.
Her circumstances left her despondent, and she fell into a deep depression.
In March of 2019, Jessie’s mom recognized an urgent need for change, and made her daughter go to the local Goodwill for help. She took the advice and walked into the Monterey Goodwill to fill out an application. GCC hired Jessie as a part-time sales associate, and after a year she was promoted to full-time sales associate. A few weeks later, the pandemic struck, and Jessie lost her sense of purpose. She did not have self-control and fell back into bad habits and depression.
Eventually, Jessie returned to work at the Monterey store, but following an employee tour of the E-Commerce Department, she requested a transfer. The GCC E-Commerce manager welcomed Jessie to the team and encouraged her to work with the Opportunity Platform to help obtain a driver’s license, viable housing, a vehicle and needed dental work. Jessie’s dad co-signed for an apartment in Salinas, with the United Way of Monterey County awarding Jessie rental assistance, including a security deposit and the first and last month’s rent.
In June of 2023, Jessie returned to school for a certificate in addiction counseling while maintaining her full-time E-Commerce position. Jessie and her fiancé had an opportunity to get an apartment by the beach, so she applied for a position as a Goodwill Training & Development Associate (TDA) close to her new home in Seaside. Jessie worked as a TDA until she was offered her dream job as a state-registered substance abuse counselor.
Jessie plans to become state certified in her field, obtain a motorcycle license and work toward a 10-year goal of purchasing a home in the area.
“I tell everybody that Goodwill saved my life; that is literally what the heck happened,” she said.
Win-win for people and the planet
Beyond the human impact, your donations also help protect the environment. In a typical year, Goodwill Central Coast receives more than 630,000 donations, totaling more than 25 million pounds of clothing and household items. From those generous donations, GCC diverts approximately 17,000 tons from landfills, and the money raised helps fund programs that put thousands of people back to work.
It’s a win-win proposition — for the people and the planet. Donations help empower individuals to find meaningful employment while helping preserve and protect the Central Coast landscape.
