Legislators Learn About Goodwill During Tour

1893 - 2014 Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, Inc. Volume 31, Number 1
Spring 2014
A group of state representatives who just completed a weight
loss competition to benefit Goodwill, recently toured Youngs-
town Area Goodwill Industries facility to see up close and
personal the programs and services Goodwill provides. The
group included Ron Gerberry of Austintown, Sean OBrien of
Hubbard, Bob Hagan of Youngstown and Tom Letson of War-
ren. State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, whose mother was once a volun-
teer at Goodwill, also joined the representatives for the tour of
Goodwill. The group of state representatives took part in the
13th Annual Tribune Chronicle Fitness Challenge under the
name Soon-to-be-Skinny Ds due to the fact that they are all
Democrats. Participants of the fitness challenge were given the
choice as to which charity they wanted to represent.
The group chose Goodwill as their charity to receive the pro-
ceeds from their efforts. I selected Goodwill Industries for our
charity because I know on a personal level the value of this
organization to the Mahoning Valley. It is an outstanding com-
munity asset that truly understands the value of work and adds
so much to the lives of it employees, says Gerberry.
Gerberry's family is very involved with Goodwill, his sister-
in-law has been employed in Goodwills textiles department as
a sheltered employee for over 20 years, another sister-in-law is
a volunteer with The Junior Group of Goodwill and his wife is
Mike McBride, executive director of Goodwill, explains Goodwills operations as
(from left) state Rep. Sean OBrien, state Senator Joe Schiavoni, state Rep. Bob
Hagan and state Rep. Ron Gerberry (out of view is state Rep. Tom Letson) listen
during a tour of the Goodwill facility on Belmont Avenue in Liberty.
Mike McBride (second from left), stands with (from left) state Rep. Bob Hagan,
state Rep. Sean OBrien, state Rep. Ron Gerberry and state Sen. Joe Schiavoni
during a recent visit from the legislators.
president of The Junior Group of Goodwill, as well as a mem-
ber of the Goodwill Board of Trustees. As someone who was
already familiar with Goodwill and had previously been on a
tour, Gerberry thought it would be good idea for the rest of the
group to learn first hand what Goodwill is all about. We wel-
come the opportunity to take anyone on a tour of our facility in
order to gain a better understanding of what it is we do here,
states Mike McBride, Goodwills executive director. We offer
tours to groups or any individual interested in learning more
about our organization.
The employees were very excited for the opportunity to
meet and speak to some of our local lawmakers, it really meant
a lot to them that the legislators came out to see the work they
do here every day at Goodwill, says McBride. Not only did the
visit leave an impact on Goodwill employees, but it also left
quite an impression with Gerberry. Goodwill is so much more
than collection sites and Goodwill store fronts. The tour
showed me first hand the size and complexity of the overall
organization. I learned of the numerous opportunities it offers
the Goodwill employees and how it improves the quality of life
for so many. Goodwill makes all of us better and that is why
its one of my favorite charities, said Gerberry.
Goodwill Graduate SpotlightMichele Barnett
All it took was that one time, that one incident was enough for her to
make a change. Michele Barnett recounted the incident that happened on
that evening in January 2013. At the time she was living with her boyfriend
and her two children. One evening he threatened me with a gun, she re-
calls. I waited until he went to sleep, grabbed my two kids and left. I left
everything behind. I didnt know where to go. I had nowhere to go, so I
called Help Hotline and they set me up with Sojourner House.
Barnett stayed at Sojourner House for the next few months until she
moved on to the Rescue Mission. The Rescue Mission then referred Barnett
to Goodwill for job training and employment services. I hadnt worked for
eight years, I was suffering from PTSD, anxiety and depression, she says.
Goodwill helped me revamp my job skills and learn to be accountable
again. It helped me mentally, physically and spiritually.
While at Goodwill, Barnett read in the Radio Reading studios (a radio
station housed at Goodwill that is broadcast to the print impaired), worked
in the textiles department, participated in job club, did computer work and
even helped other program participant with their resumes. I got a sense of
caring and family from people at Goodwill, says Barnett. Some of my
good friends are still there. I was not familiar with Goodwill and their pro-
grams when I came there. I was really surprised, enlightened and inspired
by everything. It helped me get my mindset.
While at Goodwill, Goodwills job placement specialist took her to a job
fair for a new retail store that was opening in the area. They hired her on as
a temporary worker to help set up the store, along with about 100 other
people. Of those 100 people, seven were chosen for full-time employment
with the retailer and Barnett was one of them. She was hired on as a cus-
tomer service supervisor. Years ago I had worked in banking, but I really
enjoy retail now, says Barnett. A few months after the stores opening, the
company approached her about their management training program, or their Leadership Institute. Barnett began the program i n
January 2014 and expects it to be about a year long process where she participates in classes and instruction, and is required to assist
with two new store openings as part of the program.
I look at my life in two stages now, before the violence and after, says Barnett. Everything changed for me after that night. I was
able to mend fences with my family. Now church is good and rewarding, I no longer go out of a sense of obligation.
The whole experience showed Barnett first hand how the nonprofit community works together to help one person, from Help Hot-
line, to Sojourner House to the Rescue Mission to Goodwill Industries. It really opened my eyes to the volunteers and the programs
out there. Now that I am healthy and happy, I want to give back to help people with their situation, says Barnett. Im improving
every day. There is a bright light in the horizon, its not so dark anymore. Hope is alive, smiles Barnett.
Donate to Goodwill When You Spring Clean
Spring is the perfect time to go through items in your home and decide what should stay and what should go. As you de-clutter
your home, Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries can put your unwanted items to good use. When you donate your gently used
clothing, housewares and electronics, you are helping Goodwill provide job training and employment services to people with disa-
bilities or other barriers to employment in the community.
Because of the cold winter months, donations have been down at Goodwill, while the demand for job training programs remains
high. Items most needed right now are various houseware items, electronics, glassware, home dcor items and small kitchen appli-
ances. Goodwill also accepts computers (flat screens only), computer equipment and computer accessories as part of a free recycling
partnership. Goodwill will even take those Christmas gifts you forgot to return.
You can drop off you donations at any one of the following Goodwill donation centers:
Austintown - Austintown Plaza, 6000 Mahoning Ave., 330.792.8830
Boardman - Boardman Plaza, 285 Boardman-Canfield Rd., 330.758.0282
Calcutta - 15765 State Route 170, 330.385.7998
Hermitage - Hermitage Hills Plaza, 2986 East State St., 724.346.4456
Liberty - 2747 Belmont Avenue, 330.759.0677
New Castle - Shenango Towne Center, 2611 Ellwood Rd., 330.652.4877
Salem - 187 South Broadway, 330.337.9685
Warren - Warren Plaza, 2083 Elm Rd., 330.372.1214

Please call or visit www.goodwillyoungstown.org for donation center hours and for accepted items.
Michele Barnett
Donors: Thanks for Believing in the Power of Work
Benefactors $1,000+
Anne K. Christman Fund of The
Youngstown Foundation
The Brotherhood Foundation
Fibus Family Foundation
Home Savings Charitable Foundation
Schwebel Family Foundation
Warren P. Williamson, Jr. Fund of The
Youngstown Foundation
Western Reserve Foundation, a
supporting organization of the
Community Foundation of the
Mahoning Valley - In Support of
the Amblyopia Program
The Youngstown Foundation
Youngstown Lions Club

Sustainers $500+
Janice JanJanin
Charlie & Teresa Masters

Patrons $250+
Elliot Giles
Martin Toomajian

Supporters $100+
A.P. OHoro Company
George & Theresa Bosela - In Support
of YRRS
Canteen Service
Jean Collins
Don Crago
Charles Dunlap
Mandie Hiznay - In Memory of Paul
Rienerth
Carrie Holli - In Memory of Don
Oglesby & In Support of YRRS
William Poole, Jr.
Mark & Sue Stricklin
Elyn Summers
Betsy Wells

Contributors $50+
Marilyn Boggs - In Support of YRRS
Marie Davidson
Karla & Rich Edwards - In Memory of
Paul Rienerth
Sam Fasline - In Support of YRRS
Doris Gluck
Ilona Labusch - In Support of YRRS
Milton Lenhart
Mike & Carol McBride
Anthony Mehle
Patricia Soller
Grayce Wiggins - In Support of YRRS

Friends Up to $50
Ode & Nalungo L. Aduma - In Memory
of Paul Rienerth
Betty Bemis
Michael Bosela - In Memory of Paul
Rienerth
Judy Chain
Patrick & Linda DeToro - In Support of
YRRS
Susan Epstein - In Memory of Paul
Rienerth
William Hanlon
Erica Hite
Darlene Kozusko
Mike McBride - In Memory of Richard
Bosela
Talva Maslach
Jeff Necko
John Reardon
Ethel Seridan
Metrechia A. Soper
Robert Webber

Gifts In Kind
Cirrus Fitness
Kelly Sweeney, a senior at Struthers High School, displays her award along
with her English teacher, Andrew Kornbau (left) and Mike McBride, executive
director of Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries. Sweeney, who wrote a public
service announcement for Goodwill, was 3rd runner-up in the Tom Holden
Memorial Scholarship contest from WKBN-27. Students were asked to write a
PSA for a non-profit agency of their choice. Of the 150 teenagers that submit-
ted PSAs, judges selected one winner and five runners up. Along with the
scholarship, WKBN-27 also produced the winning spot to air on television.
Goodwill Receives Grants from
the Community Foundation of
the Mahoning Valley
Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries recently received two
grants through the Community Foundation of the Mahoning
Valley. Goodwill was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Kenne-
dy Family Fund, a component fund of the Community Founda-
tion of the Mahoning Valley. This grant will be used to provide
support for the vocation rehabilitation services and programs
that are currently not funded or under-funded. The funds will be
used to pay wages, benefits, etc. of staff as well as other operat-
ing costs associated with providing services to individuals in
sheltered/organizational employment and placement, and occu-
pational health services.

Goodwill also received a grant of $10,000 from the Western
Reserve Health Foundation, a supporting organization of the
Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley. The funds will
be used to support Goodwills visual services program. As visu-
al support services continue to grow, additional funding support
is required. The grant will help to offset operational costs not
currently covered by other funding sources. The grant from the
Western Reserve Health Foundation will help Goodwill to pro-
vide visual support services in our community. Radio Reading,
preschool vision screening, social services for people who are
blind or visually impaired, and the eyeglass program all provide
needed services that can correct vision problems and/or main-
tain and create independence, says Mike McBride, executive
director of Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries.
Youngstown State University student Emily Rohanna works on a display
wall in the Liberty Goodwill store as a project for her visual merchandising
class.
2747 Belmont Avenue
Youngstown, Ohio 44505-1864

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