(WAYCROSS, Ga.) – Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire, Inc. is opening a free
community career center, Job Connections; and a retail location in Waycross. The grand opening
will be Thursday, July 19 at 10 a.m. The Waycross Goodwill is located at
2101 Memorial Drive, Waycross.
The career center and retail store will consist of 12,000 square feet and employ 25 local
residents. The store will be open to the public July 19 at 10 a.m. with a full selection of
merchandise. Throughout the Grand Opening there will be door prizes and drawings. A drive-
through donation center will be accepting gently used donations. These donations are used 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 Brenda Pollen, Director of
Workforce Development for Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire. "We find the areas
where employers see a need and tailor our programs to that." For example, at another Job
Connections location Pollen discovered that many job seekers lacked computer skills, so Job
Connections started offering computer classes.
Goodwill will be offering a resume writing class and working with job seekers to develop
interviewing skills so that job applicants 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.
The Waycross Goodwill is located at 2101 Memorial Dr. Call 912-663-0685 if you’re interested
in partnering.
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 more than 550 people. In 2011, Goodwill provided services to
approximately 19,000 people and placed 650 people in real jobs in our community. Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire serves 33 counties in Georgia and South Carolina and operates 13 other 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 . Find us on Facebook: Savannah Goodwill or follow us on Twitter:
@SavGoodwill.
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