Goodwill was founded in Boston, MA, in 1902 by Rev. Edgar J. Helms. It was Rev Helms’ vision to end poverty through the power of work, and so he began collecting donated goods from his local community with the intent to sell those donated goods for profit, and then use the money to pay the workers who helped refurbish them.
“The Goodwill Industries should not only save the waste in men and things but ought also to use the waste. How little we receive from wastepaper, rags, etc., because we collect it only and do not convert it into useful things.
-Goodwill Founder Reverend Edgar J. Helms, 1922
The triple bottom line is an economic concept that expands a typical business model from focusing only on profits to include social and environmental impacts.
Shopping at and donating to Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley is not only good for you – it’s good for others and the environment. We are dedicated to identifying responsible end markets for every item donated in an effort to divert materials from landfills. Did you know that one garbage truck worth of plastic is added to our oceans per minute every year? That’s 10 million tons per year!
Your purchases and donations help provide community programs and contribute to positive change. With your support, we are able to offer no-cost career development, training, and education resources to the community. Looking to shop or donate to Goodwill and make a difference? Visit our locations page or learn more about what things you can donate.
We can’t do this without you. The more goods that are donated to Goodwill, the better understanding we have of what is in our waste streams, and once we understand what we’re dealing with, we can innovate and find new solutions to revitalize the reduce, reuse, recycle model!
Help support the planet and empower your local community – find a store or donation center near you and donate your gently used goods today!
Amazing things are always happening at Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley! From daily specials to job training events, explore our calendar of events to discover what’s going on.