Happy May! We have a lot to celebrate and talk about this month.
Mental Health Awareness Month May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a good time to take care of yourself and check in with how you’re feeling. It’s okay to ask for help when you need it. We all go through hard times, and you are not alone. If you ever feel sad, stressed, or overwhelmed, there are people who care and want to help. You can find a list of support services, including the mental health hotline number, in the Good Vibes newsletter. We also have an amazing Family Strengthening office that can help you navigate life’s challenges, too. Please take a look, it’s there for you.
Mother’s Day is Coming Up! Don’t forget— this coming Sunday is Mother’s Day! It’s a perfect time to show gratitude and say “thank you” to the moms, grandmas, and mother figures in our lives. If you’re looking for a special gift, remember you can use your employee discount to find something thoughtful in our stores. Thrifted gifts are unique and full of love. You might find a great book, some jewelry, or a cute mug that will make Mom smile!
Thank You to Our Service Members Later this month, we will observe Memorial Day on May 26th. This is a time to remember and honor the brave people who have served in the military and allowed us to enjoy the remarkable freedoms in our country. We want to send a big THANK YOU to all the veterans and service members who are part of our Goodwill Columbus team. We see you, we appreciate you, and we are grateful for your service.
Let’s make May a month of kindness, caring, and connection—both with each other and with the people in our lives. Let’s live our ICARE values every day. You make a big difference, and I am proud to have you as part of the Goodwill Columbus family.
Ryan
Leading the Goodwill Way Training
Leading the Goodwill Way is a training rooted in the Goodwill Columbus Mission, Vision, and ICARE Values.
Are you a supervisor, or manager? A director or an executive? Give a person on your team an opportunity to learn more about Leading the Goodwill Way!
Recommend that person for our one-day Leading the Goodwill Way Training for new supervisors, that happens the last Wednesday of each month.
Go to the Dayforce HUB and look for the headline “Recognize Talent and Good Work,” or email Victor Johnson at [email protected] for more information.
BENEFITS: Make the most of Sidecar Health
We are excited to offer this new insurance program that offers first dollar coverage for office visits and prescriptions.
Please login to Dayforce to complete the very short training video series so that you can make the most of Sidecar Health.
Benefit Information Sessions – Get the answers to your questions!
Each month we are celebrating members of the Goodwill Columbus team for their participation in the ICARE Awards. The April “See Something, Say Something” winners nominated multiple coworkers for an ICARE Award!
***Please check your email to claim your gift card!***
APRIL “SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING” $25 GIFT CARD WINNERS
Misty Sowers
Shandra Newton
Latasha Reed
APRIL ICARE NOMINEES – $25 GIFT CARD WINNERS
The following Goodwill Columbus employees were nominated for ICARE Awards in April!
Truc Tran
Aaron McDade
Tai’Shona Gardner
Victoria Mitchell
Kyle Bird
Ayisha Jones-Boyd
Mai Bui
Tommy Newsom
Fatu Perry
Myron Gillon
Check out a few quotes describing some of our April ICARE nominees below!
Integrity: “Couldn’t ask for a better support supervisor, bounces from buildings to make sure all is well, always willing to help when an where needed.” Misty Sowers on Anthony Fedee
Collaboration: “Cindy has worked with her manager in taking on more coverage with routes. She has also helped out with training and implementing the Step Up program for other groups & staff. Much appreciated!” Jodi Dunaway on Cindy Keckler
Collaboration: “Amy assisted me with getting camera footage that I needed for an investigation. She was prompt with her response and provided the material quickly. Amy is always a pleasure to work with and is an asset to the Goodwill team. I appreciate her support and help on all the investigations we have been apart of together.” Chandler Fields on Amy Ooten
*Participation is quick and easy! Please see the ICARE Awards section below for more information.*
ICARE Awards: Company-Wide Appreciation & Recognition Program
How it works:
Step 1 – “See Something, Say Something”
Notice a co-worker demonstrating an ICARE value? Recognize them with an ICARE Award card that highlights their accomplishment and give them an ICARE pin!
Step 2 – Scan the ICARE Award QR Code for a chance to win prizes!
By scanning the QR code and logging your nominee’s information, they are eligible to win prizes that will be distributed monthly!
ADS North Hub – Now Open!
Congratulations to our Adult Day Services team for opening our newest site, ADS North, located at 6633 Doubletree Ave!
Be sure to stop by and say hello to Sylvia Horton, who recently graduated from Ohio Christian University, and accepted the role of the manager at ADS North! Congratulations, Sylvia!
Have you heard about our Employee Referral Program?
Refer a great candidate to our team and earn up to $250! For more information email Peggy Wible at [email protected].
Share Your Story!
May is both Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, and we’d love to highlight stories from our incredible team.
If you identify with either or both of these communities and are open to sharing, we’d love to feature your story—how your background and experiences have shaped your time at Goodwill and why recognition matters.
Participation is completely optional, these stories help us celebrate the voices and journeys of Goodwillers.
If you’re interested, please email Katie Muller-Girard at [email protected].
Benefits Bites!
See below for important links from the Goodwill Columbus Benefits team:
Lauren Ling – Manager of Marketing & Communications
Meet Lauren! Although Lauren recently joined the marketing team as the Manager of Marketing & Communications 7 months ago, she has a long history of working with Goodwill. Prior to joining Goodwill Columbus, Lauren worked at Goodwill Industries of Kentucky for more than 10 years!
To get to her current position, Lauren earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Ohio Northern University. Lauren enjoys being a small part of a larger mission, knowing that her role is making a difference.
A fun fact about Lauren is that she recently got married and got her wedding dress from Goodwill for $50! She also got all of her centerpieces at Goodwill and donated them back after the wedding. “The cyclical experience was very rewarding,” said Lauren.
Christine Mwongera, Community Integration Specialist I, Adult Day Services
Claudus Matsopfet, Direct Support Professional III, Supported Living
Chantelle Bryan, E-Commerce Associate I, Retail
Meet Almeina!
When Almeina Greenhill went to her last job interview, she had been out of work for a year and things were getting to the wire. Being told by the hiring manager that she wouldn’t be needed for the role she was interviewing for, was enough for Almeina to almost lose hope.
On top of that, Almeina’s phone wasn’t working, which is how she ended up at Goodwill Columbus’ Work and Community Services (WCS). Unaware that she was in one of our people services locations, Almeina got an unexpected surprise when Cody at the front desk, introduced her to WCS Director Tiffany Martin.
“After four minutes of talking to Miss Tiffany, I realized this was a job interview,” said Almeina. Unfazed by Almeina’s current situation, Tiffany was more interested in Almeina’s background and the special connection she already had to Goodwill.
When asked if she had experience working with individuals with disabilities, Almeina shared that her son is autistic and previously went through Goodwill’s Project Search, a 24-week program that provides participants with direct work experience in a logistics-focused Job Readiness Training program.
“Project Search helped my baby and if I can help other children with the programs offered at Goodwill, that’s a blessing,” she said.
