Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023 | 2 a.m.
Powered by Goodwill of Southern Nevada
National Thrift Shop Day is Aug. 17, making it the ideal time to shop, donate and appreciate what many local thrift stores do for the community. The benefits of thrifting are many. From a consumer standpoint, it offers unmatched deals, unique finds, and is a sustainable way to purchase goods. From a community standpoint, thrift organizations often provide other types of support as well. Here’s a look at how Goodwill of Southern Nevada turns the revenue from the stores into long-term careers for those in need.
The cycle of giving
1. Donate People donate clothing, home goods, electronics and other items to Goodwill that will be sold in the retail stores across the Valley.
2. Shop When consumers shop in store or online, those funds are funneled into a variety of workforce training programs.
3. Train Goodwill provides free career services to those in need or those with barriers to employment.
4. People get jobs Whether through individual coaching services, résumé assistance, train-to-hire programs or placements with local employers, Goodwill career services help pave the way for ongoing success.
Career opportunities and services
As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Goodwill of Southern Nevada’s mission is to reduce the effects of poverty by helping individuals obtain meaningful local employment and upward mobility. While Goodwill’s stores offer work experience and advancement opportunities, two career centers offer free services, including coaching, tuition assistance and training programs.
Goodwill’s train-to-hire programs fill local employment in a range of industries. Accelerated “training sprints” move candidates quickly into high-demand careers including health care and skilled trades.
Health care training programs
Individuals interested in launching a career in health care have two Goodwill training programs to consider.
• The Medical Assistant (MA) Training program is a 90-day pathway to a Certified Clinical Assistant certificate. Upon completion, students graduate to a paid 1,200-hour externship with Intermountain Health, one of the program’s partners along with NV Careers.
• The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training program begins with a weeklong bootcamp with NV HOPE that helps candidates decide if a health care career is right for them. For those who proceed, the next steps are formal CNA training, passing a licensing exam and gaining employment.
Skilled trade programs
Leading the skilled trades lineup is a two-week Stagehand Training program that quickly readies participants for employment with event venues, stadiums, arenas and more, both on and off the Strip. The program includes OSHA 10 certification, with candidates routinely hired on the spot on the last day of instruction.
Goodwill’s career services support thousands of Southern Nevadans each year. In 2022:
6,288 participants received free career services
2,966 people were placed into local employment
533 people with disabilities received training
226 veterans and military families were supported
830 Southern Nevadans are employed by Goodwill
Within Southern Nevada, Goodwill has:
17 retail stores and clearance centers
4 attended donation centers
2 full-service career centers
1 Goodwill Training Academy at Corporate Headquarters
