Press Releases

Goodwill awarded $50,000 Missouri River Historical Development grant to help cover Mission Services Center construction costs

Goodwill was one of 26 organizations to receive grant money

Goodwill of the Great Plains was awarded a $50,000 Missouri River Historical Development Impact Match Grant during a ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 24th at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City.

The money will go toward the construction of Goodwill’s new Mission Services Center, a more than 20,000-sq-ft, state-of-the-art net zero building.

The first-of-its-kind in the area, the new building will use solar panels and geothermal heating and cooling technology and be the new home of Goodwill’s Sioux City Job Center and Integrated Day Services, both programs that help adults gain more rewarding and independent lives.

The Mission Services Center is currently being built across the street from Goodwill’s main Support Center on W. 4^th St. in Sioux City.

During the ceremony, Missouri River Historical Development awarded grants to 26 organizations, totaling $1.25 million, narrowed down from a list of 44 applicants.

Goodwill of the Great Plains donates more than $13,000 to American Red Cross flood relief efforts

Goodwill customers ‘Round up at the Register’ for flood relief

During a presentation on Thursday, Aug. 8th in Sioux City, Goodwill of the Great Plains donated $13,619.57 to the American Red Cross – Disaster Response: Spring Storms and Floods.

Throughout July, “round up” donations received from Goodwill of the Great Plains’ customers as part of the ‘Round up at the Register’ drive were collected to be donated to the American Red Cross to support those affected by extreme flooding in June.

“As those affected by the flooding experienced a physical and emotionally exhausting process of rebuilding their lives, Goodwill wanted to help contribute toward the community outreach efforts,” said Briget Solomon, President & CEO of Goodwill of the Great Plains. “I’m constantly amazed by the compassion and kindness throughout our organization and in the communities we get to call home.”

In addition to the ‘Round up at the Register’ initiative, Goodwill distributed additional store vouchers to agencies within the communities we serve that provide disaster relief.

Goodwill’s mission is to build independence for the people it serves through employment, training and community support.

In 2023, Goodwill of the Great Plains served 33,049 people throughout its four-state region.

Goodwill to expand services in South Dakota

Day Services will now be offered in Rapid City

After more than a decade of providing employment skills training to help people with barriers find successful employment in Rapid City, Goodwill is pleased to announce it will be expanding services offered in South Dakota to include Day Services.

What are Day Services?

Goodwill helps people with intellectual disabilities meet personal goals and grow as individuals, teaching daily living skills, goal setting, socialization and offering community engagement in a fun, energetic setting – a chance to go out and be part of the community.

These expanded services come after Goodwill went through a two-and-a-half-year certification process to earn Community Support Provider status through the State of South Dakota. In May, Goodwill obtained Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) accreditation.

Goodwill giving all July Round up at the Register donations to Red Cross Disaster Relief

Round up to help with flood relief

July 1st through July 31st, all donations received from Goodwill of the Great Plains’ customers as part of the Round up at the Register drive will be donated to the American Red Cross – Disaster Response: Spring Storms and Floods, to support those affected by the recent flooding in our region.

Getting asked to round up at Goodwill is nothing new; when you shop at any of our 22 retail stores or Outlet Center, you’re asked to round up to the next dollar at checkout. While this money usually goes toward Goodwill’s mission of providing job training and employment services to individuals in our communities, from now through Wednesday, July 31^st, any amount you donate will be given to the American Red Cross.

“As those affected by the flooding begin the physically and emotionally exhausting process of recovering from this upheaval to their lives, Goodwill wants to help,” said Briget Solomon, President & CEO of Goodwill of the Great Plains. “I’m constantly amazed by the compassion and kindness throughout our organization and in the communities we get to call home.”

Whether your donation is $.99 or just one penny – you can be confident knowing it will help those affected by the historic flooding of the Big Sioux, Little Sioux, Missouri and other rivers this summer.

All donations will be paid to the Red Cross by Saturday, August 10^th.

In addition to the Round up at the Register drive, Goodwill of the Great Plains will be distributing additional store vouchers to agencies within the communities we serve that provide disaster relief.

Goodwill of the Great Plains looks to future with updated mission, vision statements

Updated statements bring Goodwill’s employment-centered, sustainable mission more into focus

Goodwill of the Great Plains builds independence through employment, training, and community support.

That new mission statement was adopted by Goodwill of the Great Plains Board of Directors earlier this year, along with a new vision statement, which reads:

“We envision a community where individuals thrive and reach their fullest potential, while being a leader in environmental sustainability.”

Goodwill’s mission is, and always has been, to help give the people we serve the tools they need to find meaningful, rewarding employment in our communities.

In the 21^st century, we pursue our mission in a highly sustainable way.

While serving more than 33,000 people in 2023, Goodwill of the Great Plains and our customers also diverted more than 12 million pounds of material from landfills.

While our mission and vision statements have changed, the programs we offer have not; In fact, our scope has grown, with the addition of Career Exploration, Day and Supported Employment Services in the state of South Dakota, specifically in the Rapid City area, this spring.

To find out more about the programs and services we offer, please visit http://www.goodwillgreatplains.org