Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries and Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley come together to highlight the power of community partnership in the Mahoning Valley. By working collaboratively, both organizations are able to extend their impact — providing support, opportunity, and hope to individuals and families facing challenging circumstances.

Community leaders, partners, and supporters gathered Thursday morning as Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries hosted its 3rd Annual Mission Breakfast at Tippecanoe Country Club, celebrating the organization’s mission and the life-changing impact of its programs throughout the Mahoning Valley. The annual event is designed to share stories that demonstrate how Goodwill’s mission services empower individuals, strengthen families, and support the region’s workforce. More than 200 attendees heard remarks from CEO Dr. Shelley Murray and Board Director HaSheen Wilson, who highlighted the importance of community collaboration in creating opportunities for local residents. One of the most moving moments of the morning came during an in-person testimonial from Gary Vandetti, who shared his journey alongside his sister, Deborah Duffy. Vandetti has been employed with Goodwill for 42 years, and his story served as a powerful reminder of the organization’s commitment to providing meaningful employment and support for individuals of all abilities. The breakfast also featured two video testimonials, highlighting Goodwill’s partnerships and impact across the community. The first recognized the 50th anniversary of the Youngstown Radio Reading Service, celebrating the organization’s continued support of local programming and community initiatives for the blind and visually impaired. The second video shared the success story of Andrea Chapman, assistant manager at Goodwill’s Austintown store, and Goodwill’s partnership with the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. Through job training and support, Chapman was able to build a career and regain stability, illustrating how collaborative community partnerships can create lasting change. During her keynote address, Murray also outlined the future vision for Youngstown Area Goodwill, emphasizing the importance of strengthening partnerships across the region. She highlighted new and expanding initiatives, including the Assembly for Workforce Solutions and WorkOhio. The Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition is serving as the Eastern Ohio hub for WorkOhio. “Our mission is only possible because of the partnerships we build across this community,” Murray said. “Together, we are creating opportunities that help individuals achieve their goals, while strengthening the workforce and the future of the Mahoning Valley.” The Mission Breakfast continues to serve as an important opportunity for Goodwill to share its work, celebrate partnerships, and inspire continued support for programs that help individuals overcome barriers to employment. If you missed the event but still want to support Goodwill, please consider donating your used goods to any of our 10 stores, or give a financial donation by clicking here. Together, we make a difference! 💙 You can view the videos from our Mission Breakfast here:

We are incredibly honored to receive a Letter of Commendation from the Austintown Township Trustees . This recognition of our relief efforts following the Austintown Studio Apartments explosion truly means the world to us. In moments like these, it’s not about recognition — it’s about coming together as a community and supporting neighbors when they need it most. At Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, we believe in standing strong with our community during challenging times, and we are proud to be part of such a resilient and compassionate region. Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, and partnered with us to make a difference.

Vehicle Donation Supports Local Law Enforcement This week, Goodwill was proud to donate one of our former Motive transportation vehicles —– an old command center squat unit —– to the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department . What once helped support our mission on the road will now serve a new purpose in helping local law enforcement better respond to the needs of our community. Over the years, this vehicle played a role in supporting transportation and outreach efforts tied to Goodwill’s programs. Rather than letting it sit unused, we saw an opportunity to give it a second life —– continuing to serve the Mahoning Valley in a new and meaningful way. Partnerships like this reflect the power of collaboration and resourcefulness. By working together, nonprofit organizations and public safety agencies can maximize resources, reduce waste, and strengthen the services available to our community.  We’re grateful to the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department for their partnership and for the work they do every day to keep our community safe. It’s an honor to see this vehicle continue making an impact —– just in a different uniform.

Youngstown Area Goodwill CEO Shelley Murray spoke at Monday's WorkOhio kickoff tour. With her are (from left): Alex Hertzer, Executive Director of the Mahoning Valley Manufactures Coalition; Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel; and Mark Lamoncha, CEO of Humtown.

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Collaboration was front and center at Goodwill Wednesday morning as we welcomed fellow non-profit organizations to come together and talk all things Thrift Trail Map . 💙 The conversation went beyond the map — it was a meaningful step toward stronger partnerships, shared ideas, and working together to better serve our communities. When nonprofits connect, everyone benefits.

Our Warren retail store has been recognized as the “Best of 2025 Warren Award Winner” in the Thrift Store category! This honor is based on verified data from Google Reviews, as analyzed and certified by BusinessRate, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you to our amazing shoppers, donors, and team members who made this possible — your support means everything to us.

Altrusa Youngstown is celebrating a major literacy milestone this month, announcing that its volunteer-led Book Donation Project has surpassed 20,000 donated books since its launch in April 2023. Read More On Mahoning Matters by Clicking here!

Clothing and other items collected from the Austintown Senior Center, Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission, and our Goodwill stores was delivered directly to Austintown Studio Apartment residents at the United Way resource fair today. Thanks to a generous donation from the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board, Goodwill also provided 100 additional clothing vouchers to residents. Goodwill has now donated over 340 vouchers to the United Way, Red Cross, and individuals affected by the explosion.

Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries has donated a substantial amount of clothing to Mercy Health — St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital in 2025 to help restock its patient clothing closet. Goodwill’s multiple donations include shirts, pants, jackets, and other essential garments. “At Mercy Health, we’re called to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus, and that starts with accompanying every patient with compassion and dignity,” said Kathy Harley, president, St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. “Clothing is fundamental to human dignity, and our clothing closet enables us to provide our patients in need with shirts, pants, shoes, and other necessities. We are thankful for the generous donations made by Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries that help keep our closet stocked and give our patients access to proper clothing.” The St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital clothing closet humbly started with hospital associates donating their extra clothes. In an effort to expand the closet to provide clothes to more patients, Mercy Health partnered with Goodwill. The clothing closet continues to provide vital support for patients and families who may not have access to clean, weather-appropriate clothing during medical treatment, or following discharge. It is also available to individuals facing emergencies, homelessness, or unexpected hospital stays. “This partnership ensures that people in our community have not only what they need for comfort, but also the dignity and confidence that comes with having appropriate clothing,” said Joe Paloski, Goodwill’s Vice President of Mission Services. The donations reflect an ongoing collaboration between Goodwill and Mercy Health to meet immediate community needs. Thanks to Goodwill’s retail and donation network, the organization can respond quickly to clothing shortages and provide direct support to local families. Goodwill plans to start a clothing closet at Mercy Health’s new behavioral hospital on Belmont Avenue in Liberty when it opens. Community members are encouraged to continue donating gently used clothing to Goodwill. These donations stay local and help sustain partnerships like the one with Mercy Health, ensuring that neighbors in need have access to essential resources. For more information, visit goodwillyoungstown.org or stop by any Goodwill donation center.

Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, Inc. has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to launch A Good Start: Recovery to Work Job Readiness Program . This funding provides Goodwill with the ability to expand this program to reach more individuals in need. A Good Start provides critical job readiness and industry-specific workforce training to individuals in recovery from substance use disorder across Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties.   The program takes a three-phase approach, offering general job readiness skills, specialized workforce training, and direct connections to employers committed to hiring individuals in recovery. Goodwill is partnering with local recovery organizations, employers, and training providers to ensure participants receive both the skills and the support needed to succeed. Through this project, Goodwill anticipates serving 168 workers and trainees by helping them secure employment or advance into further training. In addition, 10 local businesses are expected to benefit from hiring program participants, gaining reliable employees while strengthening the regional workforce.  “We are grateful for this opportunity to expand our mission in a way that addresses one of our community’s greatest needs,” said Goodwill CEO Shelley Murray. “By taking a holistic approach that combines recovery support with workforce development, we are equipping individuals in recovery with tools and opportunities to achieve long-term success for themselves and their families.”   The funding comes as part of ARC’s Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative , which awarded $11 million to 32 projects in nine Appalachian states this year. INSPIRE projects are designed to address workforce gaps caused by substance use disorder and to strengthen local economies by supporting recovery-to-work programs.  “In order to have a healthy Appalachian economy, we must make sure we have a healthy Appalachian workforce,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin in a statement. “I am so proud of the way ARC’s INSPIRE initiative empowers Appalachians in recovery to gain the training, resources, and support they need to succeed.” Since launching in 2021, ARC’s INSPIRE Initiative has invested more than $65 million in over 200 projects across 13 Appalachian states. These projects are projected to prepare more than 18,000 individuals for new job opportunities.