Sign up for our Email Newsletter

About Us About Goodwill FAQs Annual Report Sitemap Shop Rockford, IL Machesney Park, IL Freeport, IL Sterling, IL DeKalb, IL Ottawa, IL Huntley, IL McHenry, IL Crystal Lake, IL Algonquin, IL Beloit, WI Donation Express - Rockford Monthly Sales Calendar $1.23 Sale Scratch Off Sundays Sale Goodwill Gift Cards Donate Where to donate What to donate Monetary donations Mission Services How We Help Programs Financial Assistance Community Service GoodTAXES - Free Tax Preparation Monthly Training Calendar of Events Events Monthly Store Sales Monthly Training Calendar of Events Job Opportunities Current Openings Application Contact Us

PROGRAMS

Goodwill believes every person in our communities should have the opportunity to achieve a meaningful and dignified life. Our training programs give individuals the skills and resources they need to enter the workforce or move up in their current position.

GoodGRADS Pre-GED Program

The GoodGRADS program provides fundamental education services, as well as case management for adults interested in attaining their GED who are not yet ready for GED classes.

We accept students at all pre-GED levels and will help them increase their scores through:

• Interactive learning procedures using the newest technology
• Individualized learning software in a new computer lab
• One-on-one training and attention
• Small class sizes

Our full-time caseworkers will help all students in overcoming any barrier:

• Transportation
• Childcare
• Financial Management
• Social Services
• Housing

We also provide scholarships to individuals who have proven they are ready to take the GED exam.

GoodGRADS scholarships and the GoodGRADS program currently supports individuals in Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, McHenry, Stephenson, Ogle and Winnebago Counties.

For more information please call (815) 965-3795.

Let's Go to Work! Program

The Let’s Go to Work Program is a supported employment program that gives adults with disabilities or barriers the opportunity to work in our retail stores.  In communities in which the program operates, Goodwill partners with human service agencies for participant referrals for the program. 

Let’s Go to Work participants work 2-3 days a week and Goodwill provides a job coach, work readiness training, case management, and a supportive work atmosphere.  The program operates in 9 community locations including Huntley, Freeport, McHenry, Ottawa, Crystal Lake, Sterling, Beloit, Algonquin, and Goodwill’s Distribution Center (Rockford).

The main goal of the program is to assist individuals with disabilities in gaining valuable work experience, skills, and training to transition to community employment.  In 2014, the Let’s Go to Work program served 66 individuals and helped transition over 30% of program participants successfully.  This program enables Goodwill participants to become more independent through the dignity of work. 

Let’s Go to Work Retail Training

The Let’s Go to Work Retail Training is a 3-hour training session designed to help individuals with disabilities learn the expectations of the retail industry.  Goodwill will work with community agencies to conduct the training in the any of Goodwill’s Retail locations. 

The training can accommodate 5-15 participants and helps introduce the retail industry and the skills needed for success. These skills expectations for attendance, workplace behavior, teamwork, communications, safety, and customer service.  The training includes a tour of the sales floor and the back room warehouse and each participant is given a Retail manual to use as a reference.  

For more information please call (815) 965-3795.

Work Readiness Open Lab

Goodwill's open lab is a free resource for job seekers. We offer tools to help with job searching and applying for jobs.

• Open Mondays - Thursdays (8:30am to 3:30pm)
• Required computer lab orientations held the last Friday of every month from 9:00am to 11:00am
• Resume workshop - every 2nd Friday of the month from 9:00am to 11:00am

Located at Goodwill's Mission Services Center - 615 N. Longwood Street, Rockford

Interested? Call (815) 965-3795 for more information

 

Goodwill Community Resource Room

Get Connected! Goodwill's new Community Resource room offers free internet for job searching, free workshops covering a wide variety of topics to help you get ahead, and a Resource Specialist to help you identify the community resources you need.

Open lab Monday through Friday from 12pm to 5pm
Located in the DeKalb Goodwill - 1037 S. Annie Glidden Road

Upcoming classes & events include:


8/17-8/20       9:30AM            Kishwaukee College Computer Basics 2
8/21             10:00AM            Thinking on Your Feet
8/26             10:00AM            Social Media Etiquette

For more information or to sign up please call (815) 748-7155.

 

Job Placement Program

We teach individuals with disabilities / barriers to employment the skills they need to attain work in the community and successfully apply for and gain employment. Participants must have a documented disability for this program and enroll with the Department of Rehabilitation Services locally.

LEARN MORE

Operates in Rockford and DeKalb, Illinois.

 

Attire to Hire Program

Goodwill is about jobs and helping people, and sometimes, our clients and community members need some basic tools to help them land the job. Goodwill can help individuals locally to attain clothing for interview or employment needs. We work with other human service agencies and individuals to provide high quality clothing, free of charge.

Financial Programs

Goodwill has financial programs that assist participants with preparing their incomes taxes and learning new skills such as budgeting and saving money. CLICK HERE for more information.

 

For more information or to register for Goodwill's programs, please call (815) 965-3795 or email [email protected].

[HOME]