[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 64 (Friday, April 12, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E457-E458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF GOODWILL OF WESTERN MISSOURI 
                           AND EASTERN KANSAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 12, 2019

  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize and 
celebrate the 125th anniversary of Goodwill of Western Missouri and 
Eastern Kansas, a nonprofit organization whose core foundation is aimed 
at providing people with the necessary resources and life skills to 
become self-sufficient and successful individuals. After decades of 
commitment to assisting those in their communities, the organization 
now operates as a product of two combined agencies, the Helping Hand 
Institute and Goodwill Industries.
  Commencement of the organization's mission within the Kansas City 
area began in 1894 on Grand Boulevard with the Helping Hand Institute, 
an organization committed to providing shelter and employment resources 
to those in need. The Kansas City residents within the organization 
worked on the Helping Hand Institute's farm to feed the community or 
found employment salvaging waste material, breaking rock at quarries, 
and bailing paper in exchange for food and shelter.
  Along the east coast, an organization sharing a similar initiative 
arose in 1902 inspired by Reverend Edgar J. Helms, the social innovator 
behind Goodwill Industries. After witnessing innumerable immigrant 
families struggle to provide for themselves due to unemployment, Rev. 
Helms collected clothing and household items from wealthy families to 
be repurposed and resold at discounted costs. Using the revenue 
generated from those items, he funded his organization and employed a 
multitude of people in need of work to provide for their families. The 
organization quickly expanded across the nation, and in 1925, Goodwill 
Industries of Greater Kansas City opened their first establishment at 
St. Peter's Evangelical Church on Oak Street. In the 1940's, Goodwill 
Industries wished to further amplify their mission by making employment 
services like skills training and vocational rehabilitation available 
to the community.
  In 1978, after thoughtful deliberation, Goodwill Industries merged 
with the Helping Hand Institution to form the Helping Hand of Goodwill, 
now officially known as ``Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern 
Kansas''.
  Today, this remarkable nonprofit organization continues to carry out 
their mission by helping community members find employment. Their 
services and programs, subsidized by grants, financial donations, and 
revenue generated by their stores, allow the organization to continue 
their indispensable work without any expense to the public. 
Additionally, Goodwill manages and operates GoodWORKS Career Resource 
Centers across the Kansas City

[[Page E458]]

region and other neighboring areas. These centers are available to the 
public and equipped with the resources, services and programs needed to 
assist anyone with a genuine desire to enter the workforce. Their 
services and programs include employment listings, career exploration, 
an overview of the job application process, resume building, mock 
interviews, and computer training, along with guidance in goal-setting 
and identifying the steps necessary to reach those goals. Their support 
and guidance are all inclusive--helping those with physical 
disadvantages, mental health diagnoses, substance abuse histories, 
criminal backgrounds, and developmental disabilities. Furthermore, they 
seek to empower local job seekers with the confidence and skills 
necessary to aid them in their ardent pursuit of employment.
  Since its inception, Goodwill has served more than 600,000 people and 
secured more than 200,000 paying jobs. In 2017 alone, Goodwill served 
over 700 individuals, secured 155 jobs, and employed 536 new members 
with a total economic impact of 18 million dollars in Western Missouri 
and Eastern Kansas. Moreover, they receive over 20 million pounds of 
materials to be reused, resold, or recycled annually, which kept 
approximately 15 million pounds of items from ending up in landfills.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join all of 
Missouri's Fifth Congressional District as we proudly commemorate the 
125 years of exceptional service and individual empowerment rendered to 
our community by the Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas. 
Let us join in demonstrating our strong appreciation for the 
perseverance of this organization as it continues to offer essential 
services and programs that meet the needs of those in our community.

                          ____________________