In 2008, suffering from debilitating depression, Frank Farmwald found himself homeless and unable to keep a job. His condition became so severe it required him to be temporarily institutionalized. He then entered a transitional housing program as he learned to manage his depression.

It has become a tradition to send the Goodwill marketing interns to the Goodwill Outlet for their first shopping experience, requesting they report back with any tips, tricks and noteworthy findings.  This past summer's intern, Scott Crabb, went to visit one of our Goodwill Outlets. We armed him with gloves and the ever-important rule of "don't touch anything until all the bins are together." 

Goodwill stores may not be the first thought in your mind when Valentine’s Day rolls around, but it should be up on the list. Your local store location easily offers date-worthy wear, even if it’s just comfy sweats for a night in. The donation door makes an easy drop-off for a long-procrastinated box of former Valentine’s things that no one wants to claim any longer, and the shelves are full of potential ambiance makers and supplies for sweet DIY gifts.

Erik Caldwell moved back to Crawfordsville three years ago to help his dad through some difficult life circumstances. He applied for a job at the local Goodwill store, expecting it to be temporary, but remains a valuable associate today, staying longer than he ever planned.

Greg Wieneke has been employed at Goodwill for nearly a decade. For many years, he dreamed of riding a bicycle across the country, in part, to prove to himself that he could. Greg was born with cerebral palsy, a disorder that affects balance, movement and muscle tone, and epilepsy, a central nervous system disorder.

Geno Cox, blind since birth, recently celebrated 10 years as an associate at the Anderson Goodwill store. After attending the Indiana School for the Blind, Geno had difficulty finding a job locally.  

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, consumers are discarding more clothing and textiles than ever before, with 12 million tons ending up in landfills in 2012 alone. As responsible stewards of your donations, Goodwill strives to be  as  environmentally low impact as possible. We can assure you the smallest donations — even your unmatched socks — support Goodwill’s mission.

We’re big believers in growing imaginations while reducing waste which is one reason why we love DIY kids Halloween costumes made from Goodwill finds. A few years ago, we were inspired by the movie Frozen to try our hand at the lovable woodland creature, the reindeer.

Most people don’t dream up their Halloween costumes in February. Then again, most people aren’t among the 100 volunteers of the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Guild, planning the country’s oldest haunted house — and the museum’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

Setting the scene: You're hosting an autumn-inspired meal for a group of friends and though the food could speak for itself, you'd really like to add that Joanna Gaines touch to your table. Alas, your crafting and decorating skills—on a scale of one to ten—would be in the below zero range. Fear not, we've got the perfect craft for you! For around $8 and 10-15 minutes of your time, you can create a simple, elegant, fall-friendly decoration, make several for a centerpiece or scatter them around the house for a continuous touch.