In November 2021, Whitney Platt joined Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana at the retail store in Madison, Indiana. As a Team Lead 1, she jumpstarted her career as a leader, ready to contribute to Goodwill’s mission of changing lives every day through education, employment and health.

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. 

In the last year, Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP), an evidence-based maternal health program, has been able to expand into 62 Indiana counties thanks to state and philanthropic investment. A wider service area across Indiana’s diverse urban and rural communities means more first-time parents can be paired with registered nurses and receive the support needed to provide the very best start for their children.

This July, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s reentry program, Goodwill New Beginnings, held its sixth annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Every year, this highly anticipated event connects the community with Indiana law enforcement and the Indiana Department of Corrections through an afternoon of friendly competition, camaraderie and fun.

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. 

“Don’t be afraid of starting over.” After working in healthcare for over a decade, the COVID lockdown allowed Kenetra Woods to reevaluate her career goals. With support from Per Scholas, she was able to gain the confidence to pursue a career in information technology. 

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