When Johnny Manson joined Goodwill in October 2016 as a part-time donation attendant, he had been struggling to secure employment due to past legal issues and a lifelong history of depression. 

The Goodwill Foundation of Central & Southern Indiana recently hosted Goodwill: UNBOXED, its third annual sold-out fundraising event. To date, the event has raised nearly $1 million to support our most vulnerable neighbors. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals with disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed as individuals without disabilities, significantly limiting their ability to live independently. As one of the largest employers of persons with disabilities in the state of Indiana — one-third of the more than 5,000 Hoosiers we employ report a disability — Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana highlights the extraordinary work of these individuals all year long.

Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana operates 75 retail stores that not only provide a place for the community to donate their gently used goods and shop for deals, but they also provide meaningful employment opportunities to Hoosiers.

You’re probably familiar with Goodwill as a place where you can donate your gently used goods and shop for unique treasures at a great price. What you might not know is that we’re more than just a thrift store. As a local not-for-profit, the proceeds generated from your shopping and donations are used to empower people in central and southern Indiana to change their lives through the health, education and employment services we offer, including:

For the past 25 years, Labcorp has partnered with Goodwill Commercial Services to generate hundreds of jobs for individuals with employment barriers here in Indianapolis, while impacting health across the globe. 

When Richard Wagoner was 24 years old, he was involved in a car accident that left him with lifelong paralysis of his lower body. For nearly 30 years since, he has navigated life in a wheelchair. 

Born with autism spectrum disorder, John Thompson did not begin speaking until he was eight years old. He was homeschooled and had no prior experience with public school before enrolling at The Excel Center® in Shelbyville, Goodwill’s tuition-free high school for adults. As a result, he lacked experience socializing in an academic setting and worried that his peers might not accept him. 

At age five, Joselyn and her family immigrated from Honduras to Los Angeles, where she encountered challenges and life took an unexpected turn.