WINTER 2024

Welcome to the Winter edition of our Goodwill newsletter! As we embrace the winter chill, let us come together to make a difference and create a season of warmth for all. We are excited to highlight the incredible initiatives that your support has made possible and invite you to join us in spreading the spirit of goodwill throughout the cooler months. We want to help everyone to Find Your Good!

In this issue, check out the good news about new board leadership, the Forest Store Grand Opening, an Excel Center update, and relocated Roanoke Program Offices!

There is a lot going on at Goodwill! Visit our website goodwillvalleys.com for information, news, and updates throughout the year.

NEW BOARD OFFICERS & DIRECTORS

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys has new board officers and three new directors who will each help support the organization’s work to eliminate poverty and provide everyone with the opportunity to achieve their greatest potential.

Aaron Boush, Carilion Clinic, is now Chair and most recently was the board’s Vice Chair. Jeremy Longshore from Burgess, Demarco & Flick Insurance was previously Treasurer and is now Vice Chair. Autumn Visser, Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black, will now be Treasurer. John Wood, retired from Vistar Eye Center, continues his role as Secretary.

The three new board members are:

Jennifer Huffman from Atlantic Union Bank
Tanisha Nash from enCircle - Minnick Schools
Sergio Render from Trustpoint Insurance

Our officers and directors bring a wealth of experience and passion to advance our mission of empowering individuals, strengthening families, and inspiring communities.

MORE ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP

NEW FOREST STORE

We will open our new Forest Store located at 19325 Forest Road in Lynchburg on March 14th! Join us to celebrate the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Grand Opening beginning at 9:30 am. This new store will provide our supporters in Forest with a larger, convenient location for them to donate and shop.

The Forest area has always been very supportive of Goodwill and our mission. We look forward to continuing to serve this community at the new location, at our other area stores, and through our program services.

The store will:

Consolidate operations from the existing Forest store and the Lynchburg store located near Walmart on Forest Brook Road
Offer over 12,000 square feet of shopping that’s brighter, newer, and easier to shop
Feature a convenient, two-lane, covered, drive-thru donation center
Offer more parking and be easily accessible on Forest Road
Offer the high quality, low-cost items for the family and home
Be home to the familiar faces from the Forest & Lynchburg Goodwill stores

RSVP TO THE GRAND OPENING

ADULT HIGH SCHOOL APPROVAL

We received approval from the Virginia Department of Education to operate the first adult high school in the Commonwealth. The Excel Center® will allow adults to finish high school courses in a supportive environment while simultaneously earning industry-recognized workforce credentials.

Designed as a cornerstone of Melrose Plaza, the Excel Center is part of our greater initiative to address poverty, healthcare concerns and food accessibility in Roanoke. It will help address barriers for adult students by providing wraparound services that include childcare, transportation services, and college and career navigation. Courses are offered at an accelerated pace and at times that accommodate working students.

The Excel Center is an evidence-based, proven educational model that has been used by Goodwills across the country since 2010, helping adults earn their high school diplomas and workforce credentials. This will be the first Excel Center in Virginia, and we are looking forward to expanding the model in other parts of our service area where high school dropout rates are having an impact on the local economy.

MORE ABOUT THE APPROVAL

RELOCATED ROANOKE PROGRAM OFFICES

We recently relocated the Roanoke Program Offices from Melrose Avenue to Thirlane Road in Roanoke. The new office, located 3601 Thirlane Road, Suite 5, NW in Roanoke, will host an open house on Thursday, February 29th from 11 am to 12 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and learn more about the programs and services Goodwill offers to the Roanoke Valley and take a tour of the new space.

The location is open Monday – Friday from 8 am – 4:30 pm to provide program services including:

Career Navigation
Discovery Services
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
Supported Employment Services
YouthBuild

We continue to offer individuals in the Roanoke area training and employment services and continue to serve individuals in our Discovery Services program. The move to Thirlane allows us to serve individuals as we have in the past in addition to the new services that will be offered at the future Melrose Plaza on Melrose Avenue. You can RSVP to attend the open house.

MORE ABOUT PROGRAM SERVICES