TORONTO- Goodwill Toronto is celebrating the grand opening of the new community store at 731 Runnymede Rd. in Toronto on Tuesday, August 30th. This new location creates 33 jobs for people in the community who do not have access to employment.

Founded in 1935 in the heart of the Great Depression as the Society for Crippled Civilians, Goodwill continues to provide work to those seeking employment as we emerge from another recession.

“The opening of a new Goodwill location demonstrates how Goodwill and the local community are able to create jobs for people who cannot otherwise access work. This is done through the simple act of bringing in gently used items to our stores,” says Dr. Ken Connelly, President and CEO of Goodwill Greater Toronto, Central and Eastern Ontario.

10 of the 33 new jobs at the Toronto location are filled through Goodwill’s REACH™ (Real Employment to Achieve Community Health) initiative whereby employees receive job and life skills training. The goal of the REACH™ program is to enable people to grow into more than just a job, but a career, with sustained employment viewed as a process.

Goodwill and communities creates jobs through the 3 R’s: Reuse, Resell, Recruit. As a 95 per cent self-sustaining social enterprise, Goodwill accepts donations from the community of new and lightly used goods such as clothing and household items. These goods are then resold in community stores.

The new Goodwill location in Toronto is located on Runnymede Rd. at the intersection of Runnymede and St.Clair allowing people to conveniently drive in and drop off their donated goods.

To find a Goodwill location near you or to learn more about what you can donate, visit: www.goodwill.on.ca.

About Goodwill
Since 1935, Goodwill’s mission is to create work opportunities and skills development for people facing serious barriers to employment, including persons with disabilities, youth at risk, the chronically unemployed, Aboriginal people and newcomers to Canada. Our Community Stores resell a wide variety of donated goods for reuse, the revenues from which create jobs at Goodwill, giving people much-needed paid jobs.

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Media contact:

Brian Kellow

Manager Manager Marketing and Public Relations

Goodwill
Greater Toronto, Central and Eastern Ontario
350 Progress Ave.
Scarborough, ON M1P 2Z4

Tel: (416) 815-4785

bkellow@goodwill.on.ca