MEDIA ALERT: PRIVATE GRAND OPENING by invitation and for Media is Wednesday, March 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The PUBLIC grand opening is Thursday, March 29, 10 a.m.
Goodwill to open in Richmond Hill
Employers, job seekers to have many free resources and services at Job Connections, and retail location will offer a wide variety of items
(RICHMOND HILL, Ga.) – Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire, Inc. is opening a free community career center, Job Connections, and a retail location in Richmond Hill. The grand opening will be Thursday, March 29 at 10 a.m.
The career center, Job Connections, will be on the second floor above the store. The store will be open to the public March 29 at 10 a.m. with a full selection of merchandise. The store will have door prizes and drawings throughout the grand opening. There will also be a donation center, with the donations helping to fund Goodwill’s Workforce Development programs.
Job Connections offers many free resources and services to both employers and job seekers. For example, Goodwill offers applicant screening. Employers can provide Goodwill with job descriptions and Goodwill can match qualified applicants out of their database for the employer to interview. Goodwill can also provide office space for interviewing and job fairs at no charge.
Resources, technology and support services have been designed to help job seekers secure and maintain employment. The center will be a resource for job searches, offering help with resumes and interviewing skills, as well as a phone bank, printer, and copier. Educational seminars will also help with job skills as well as areas such as health and wellness and financial well-being.
“We talk to employers and match their needs to our services,” said Michael Whitfield, Richmond Hill Career Center Manager for Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire. “We find the areas that employers see a need and tailor our programs to that.” For example, at another Job Connections location Whitfield discovered that many job seekers lacked computer skills, so Job Connections started offering computer classes.
“We’re excited about being in Richmond Hill and Bryan County,” Whitfield said. “We are committed to tailoring our services to the needs of Richmond Hill. We’re anxious to hear what Richmond Hill and the surrounding areas want.”
In terms of services for job seekers, Goodwill will be offering a resume writing class and working with job seekers to develop interviewing skills so that they feel confident when they walk into an interview. There will also be networking opportunities and job fairs, and applicants will be able to view job postings that are available in the community.
“We hope to provide clients with the tools they need to stand out in the applicant pool and achieve their employment goals,” Whitfield said.
“We know education is the key to lifting people out of poverty,” Whitfield said. “The goal is to help them see their world in a different way and see what they can become. Goodwill can help them meet their needs and goals.”
In order to offer all these services for free, Goodwill relies on help from community volunteers.
“Volunteers are crucial,” Whitfield said. “We have opportunities in reception, basic data entry and for instructors who may want to offer workshops or facilitate classes. It’s a great opportunity for citizens to give something back to their community.”
The Richmond Hill Goodwill is located at 9701 Ford Ave. Call 912-663-3223.
About Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire
Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire, Inc. is dedicated to the mission of assisting people with disabilities and other barriers to employment to live independently and become employed. The not-for-profit organization employs 550 people, provided services to approximately 17,000 people and placed about 650 people in real jobs in our community this year. Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire serves 33 counties in Georgia and South Carolina and operates 12 retail locations in the region. Goodwill accepts tax deductable car donations and operates an online store at shopgoodwill.com. For more information on Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire, please visit www.goodwillsavannah.org.
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