When Sarah walked into the Goodwill Outlet on Washington Street in 2019 to apply for a job, she was carrying the weight of her past, the uncertainty of recovery and the urgency of starting over. Newly sober, navigating the impact of criminal history, and living in transitional housing after completing a rehabilitation program, she knew finding employment wouldn’t be easy. She also knew it was necessary. What Sarah couldn’t have known that day was just how deeply that decision would change her life.

Austin was just one credit short of earning his high school diploma, but at the time, that single credit felt like a mountain to climb. School had never been a place where he felt comfortable or successful. Sitting still in a classroom was difficult with ADHD, and he often questioned whether finishing school even mattered. By his senior year, life had become even more complicated. Frequent moves and an abusive relationship made it difficult to focus on anything beyond simply getting through each day.

If you’re a bargain lover, serious thrifter, upcycler, or treasure hunter, there’s a good chance you’ve at
least heard of Goodwill Outlet Stores: the place you buy by the pound, sort through the big blue bins and conveyor belts, and find surprises you really didn’t know you needed (or wanted). 

When Priya Menon, Youth Coordinator at the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana, reached out to Goodwill Horizon House, we were truly honored to partner with her community. Each quarter, HTCI selects an organization for their youth to support through seva, a practice rooted in selfless service. It’s a tradition that helps young people build a steady habit of giving back, not just during the holidays, but all year long. For the final quarter of 2025, they chose Goodwill Horizon House as their partner, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Each year, neighbors at Goodwill Horizon House get to experience the normalcy of a holiday meal thanks to Ben and Darla Slaughter. But ask them about it, and they’ll be quick to say, “this isn’t about us.” For them, it’s about honoring their neighbors, real people, who deserve to feel cared for, respected, and included during a season when many are reminded of what they don’t have.

Walking into the Goodwill on Olio Road in Indianapolis, you can feel that something is different. The space is open, everything is well-organized and you can feel the sensation that you’re going to find something amazing.

When Roddrick’s wife secretly signed him up for orientation at The Excel Center® , Goodwill’s tuition-free high school for adults, he thought she was joking. Decades after leaving school in the ninth grade, he walked into class  ready for a fresh start.

When you walk into the Lawrence Goodwill store on Sunnyside Road in Indianapolis, it’s easy to notice the racks of clothing, shoes, and shelves of treasures waiting for a second home. But behind every stocked aisle is a story, and sometimes, even a cart full of them. That’s where Lucy comes in.