Life has a funny way of taking us on detours. For Wendi, that detour started early, when she was just 16 years old and she dropped out of high school.

Montez Day knows firsthand that a single moment does not define a lifetime. Today, he serves as the Manager of Goodwill New Beginnings at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, a role he stepped into in 2025 after starting as a facilitator and receiving several promotions since joining the organization in September 2021. But his path to leadership was shaped by years of transformation, education, and an unwavering belief in the power of second chances.

For many individuals leaving the justice system, the road back to stability isn’t just uphill, it’s often a dead end. But at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, a transformative initiative called Goodwill New Beginnings is proving that with the right support, the cycle of incarceration can be broken for good.

In the heart of Indianapolis, a unique residential community is doing more than just providing a place to sleep; it's strengthening the city’s economic and social fabric. Riverview Apartments, a premier workforce housing development, represents a vision of a more inclusive and sustainable urban environment.

When Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana and Per Scholas officially partnered in late 2022, they shared a simple but powerful goal: to open doors to opportunity through education. Per Scholas, a national nonprofit that provides no-cost technology career training and job connections, especially for individuals traditionally underrepresented in tech, moved into Goodwill’s corporate offices on West Michigan Street in January 2023. By March, the first cohort of learners had begun, bringing new energy, hope, and possibility into the space.

Ten years ago, a door opened in Shelbyville that changed the trajectory of hundreds of lives. Today, The Excel Center®, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s free public high school for adults, proudly announces the 10th anniversary of its Shelbyville location.

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.