Category: Mission

Memorial sensory panels in Goodwill’s Mission Services Center unveiled in honor of Megan Schonrock

Megan's mother Robin, and Nicole Moodie, a Program Manager at Goodwill who knew Megan well, pose in front of two of the sensory panels during a dedication ceremony at Goodwill's Mission Services Center on Monday, December 15.
Megan’s mother Robin and Nicole Moodie, a Program Manager at Goodwill who knew Megan well, pose in front of two of the sensory panels during a dedication ceremony at Goodwill’s Mission Services Center on Monday, December 15.

The sensory panels were dedicated by Megan’s mother during a ceremony on December 15

The Goodwill of the Great Plains Mission Services Center in Sioux City has a new interactive memorial, in memory of a person who was a long-time member of the Integrated Day Services Program.

After Megan Schonrock passed away in September of 2025, her mother Robin wanted to do something to honor her daughter’s memory and enrich the lives of her daughter’s friends at Goodwill.

Robin used memorial money given in honor of Megan to design and purchase five new sensory wall panels to enhance the sensory hallway at Goodwill’s Mission Services Center.

Sensory wall panels are interactive tools, much like fidget devices, placed on a wall to help improve concentration and focus, reduce anxiety, improve creativity and more.

The panels were dedicated during a ceremony on Monday afternoon, December 15, 2025.

Megan was part of Goodwill’s Integrated Day Services program for nearly a decade.

Goodwill to expand VR thanks to $25,000 MRHD grant

A group of Goodwill employees, including (from L to R) Jeff Johnson, Mitchell Kulawik and Vilay Keokenchanh, hold a large novelty check for $25,000, awarded by Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD) to Goodwill of the Great Plains during a ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 23rd inside Encore Hall at Sioux City's Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

MRHD grant will help underserved youth

Goodwill of the Great Plains will soon be leasing several Transfr VR Goggle headsets and the software needed to run them, thanks to a generous grant from Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD).

Goodwill was awarded a $25,000 MRHD Impact Match Grant, one of nine given out during a ceremony on Thursday morning, Oct. 23rd, inside Sioux City’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

This virtual reality technology creates immersive career exploration opportunities for underserved youth, allowing them to experience in-depth job simulations for high-demand careers.

The money will also help purchase 8 laptops, 6 iPads and a scanner; Goodwill will provide $6,399 toward the purchase.

A total of $1.25 million in grants were given out during the ceremony, ranging from $25,000 – $250.000.

MRHD has invested more than $58 million into Woodbury Co. and surrounding areas since 1994.

Digital Career Accelerator – Training at No Cost

Whether you want to improve your earnings, enter a new field or become more productive at work or home, Digital Career Accelerator training can help!

What You’ll Learn:

  • How to use a computer and navigate the internet
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  • Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  • How to leverage Artificial Intelligence to boost your productivity at home and at work

Program Details:

  • Flexible: Personalized learning ensures you learn on your own schedule
  • Accountability: You will be assigned to a Goodwill Case Manager who can help you build upon what you are learning
  • Cost: FREE!

Who Should Join?

  • Adults re-entering the workforce
  • Seniors and beginners with little to no computer experience
  • Anyone looking to up-skill their digital knowledge  

You can now get Digital Career Accelerator training at no cost to you. Fill out this form to get started: www.goodwillgreatplains.org/dca/

    2024 – A Year of Good

    A look back at what we accomplished together in 2024

    Thanks to your generous support, Goodwill of the Great Plains made a difference in more than 32,000 lives in 2024 – helping hundreds of people get jobs, changing thousands of lives and diverting millions of pounds from landfills.

    Take a deeper dive into those numbers below:

    A look at how Goodwill of the Great Plains positively impacted the communities it serves in 2024 - showing various statistics and numbers related to programming, pounds of material diverted from landfills, pounds of material recycled and more.

    Together, we were able to do a lot of GOOD!

    To find out more about the programs and services offered by Goodwill of the Great Plains, please visit goodwillgreatplains.org