Probably the same as walmart I'm sure....but most important is the training of the basics of setting your alarm, showering getting to work on time etc.....

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Goodwill Industries is all about people working.....

We at Goodwill Industries will be satisfied only when every person in the global community has the opportunity to achieve his/her fullest potential as an individual and to participate and contribute fully in all aspects of a productive life.

The opportunity is there.  It is the responsbility of every person in the global community to make use of that opportunity.

Every person has the opportunity for an education, but every person must use that opportunity to be responsible, buckle down and get to the homework instead of hanging out.    Every person must be responsible and go to the library and read instead of hopping into bed with every Tom, Dick and Harry and winding up pregnant.  Every person needs to limit the time spent watching the often trashy shows on TV and spend more time reading the paper, learning what's going on in the world.  The opportunity is there to own a house, but if you spend your money on owning the latest greatest gadgets, or blowing money on lottery or cigarettes, instead of paying for your home and upkeep, well, is that our problem?  

Behaviors can't be legislated, but we don't need legislation that allows for enabling of negative behaviors (i.e., "pay increase" for welfare recipients upon birth of another child, SSI for druggies and drunkards).

The opportunity is there, now apply yourself

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disadvantages, such as welfare dependency, homelessness, and lack of education or work experience, as well as those with physical, mental and emotional disabilities.

I worked at Walmart and in health care,,,, these ARE primary reasons.....however, since the deregulation of the Reagan era these folks are mixed into the general population....are we our brothers keeper?? Who knows....we haven't come very far in the past 2000years let alone the 200years of an America world........

What the hey.  This is wierd.  "....every Tom, Dick, and Harry...." look what happened.

Every Tom, Richard, and Harry

Let's see, the host of American Bandstand was Dick Clark
Watergate president Richard M Nixon was sometimes called Dick Nixon

Charles Dickens

Not to mention some folks just dont get the merry-go-round things of life.....I for one am about to fall off or jump....not sure yet......

It's like talking to folks with thick accents from other languages....dont you notice yourself speaking louder,, as if that would make them understand any better????

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Behaviors can't be legislated, but we don't need legislation that allows for enabling of negative behaviors (i.e., "pay increase" for welfare recipients upon birth of another child, SSI for druggies and drunkards).

I agree....should the elderly get a raise in their SS too....what if they were sluggards or a simpleminded lineman that couldn't juggle (or afford to pay some else to juggle for them) multiple jobs, home, kids etc....yet do they deserve a cost of living raise???

there is a strain of mental illness that is woven into the human race...what it is called no one knows...yet we give diagnosis to things that we dont understand to be able to design treatments and drugs......just look at the sex offenders and that battle......

And better yet, how many of the employees for this new store are actually going to speak English...as their PRIMARY language?

I walked into Popeyes over off of Albany Street the other day.  Now, I understand enough Spanish to get the conversation that happened, but I honestly think that it's just plain RUDE for people to be sitting there, taking your order in one language, then turning around and speaking to co-workers and employees in a different language.  

Interesting too, considering the person they were talking to couldn't figure out how to get to his part time job on time because his hours change every other week, going back and forth between having to show up at one time, or an hour later.  Interesting, they got the guy there within 10 minutes of talking to him, riding his bike, then they were talking OUTSIDE the store in Spanish.  The best part about it?  Guess who was sitting in the store eating their chicken...some employees of INS!

I wonder if they would complain about the parking fees at SCCC.....

This Goodwill take the people off welfare and employ them.
But not a chance. They get more money from welfare.
The taxpayer is a better employer.

You will all be seeing  me in the new thrift store. My 82year old mom can't wait for it to open! When she goes to visit my brother in NJ, she goes to the one there and she loves it. So she is counting down the days and marking "MY" calender for when it will open so I can take her. So I'll be able to tell everyone what it's like.

http://www.dailygazette.com

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ROTTERDAM
Goodwill store gets warm welcome
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

   Rachel West fashions herself as a seasoned deal-seeker.
   The stay-at-home mother from Albany was perusing a rack of clothing at Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey in Colonie on Thursday when she caught wind of a new store opening in Rotterdam. With her 5-year-old daughter Alyssa in tow, she headed for the Hannaford Plaza in search of some unique clothing or a good bargain.
   Several moments later, she found Alyssa a bright pink shirt and a Barbie princess costume to wear for Halloween, both still bearing their original store tags. Together, the items cost her $10, which is far less than what they might cost even at a discount retailer.
   “It’s brand new,” she said, holding up the costume. “That’s what’s really cool.”
   What’s also cool is that the money West spent will all go to fund programs organized by the nonprofit human services organization. These programs now serve more than 110,000 people per year, including those with disabilities, youth, seniors and the homeless,
   The Rotterdam location joins Goodwill Industries’ 33 locations in New York and New Jersey, including branches in Colonie, Troy and Amsterdam. The store boasts 19,700 square feet of space, making it the largest one in the Capital Region.
   The company took over a space in the plaza previously leased by Joanne Fabrics, which left the area about six years ago. Goodwill Industries is Rotterdam’s first and only thrift shop since a City Mission location on Hamburg Street closed several years ago.
   Mauricio Hernandez, the company’s senior vice president for retail sales, said Goodwill Industries has long viewed the town as a good spot to open a store. However, he was surprised by the immediate outpouring of customers and donations as the store prepared to open.
   “The response has been phenomenal,” he said.
   Steady streams of customers continued to pour into the store, even hours after a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local and state politicians. District Manager Rick Ressler figured there would be a good turnout for the opening but wasn’t expecting to find people crowding to get in.
   “It was better than I expected,” he said. “They were lined up waiing.” Inside, the store doesn’t look anything like the stereotypical thrift shop. The brightly lighted store boasts aisles of neatly organized apparel, furniture and even cosmetics.
   All items stocked at the shop are “gently used,” in the sense that they appear —and sometimes are —brand new. Walking through the displays, it’s difficult to distinguish Goodwill Industries from any other large retailer.
   “It’s not the age-old thrift shop in a church basement,” Ressler said. “Today, there are a lot of people coming to try and find unique items.”  

  
  
  

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And better yet, how many of the employees for this new store are actually going to speak English...as their PRIMARY language?

First of all, I wanted to answer my own question here.  I went to this store yesterday evening and found that this was not an issue.  Everyone seemed to be English-speaking.

I e-mailed Mr. Mason re: this article that he wrote.  Dang it, me and my unprofessional tone, referring to HIM by first name, also.

Have to work on that.

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Justin,

Thank you for the article that you had in the Gazette today.  It was quite informative.  

I walked into that store yesterday and found it refreshing.  

I was wondering if you could get a couple questions answered for me and the other residents of Rotterdam regarding this store, maybe asking Mauricio Hernandez, the company's senior V.P. for retail sales or District Manager Rick Ressler.A few of us are wondering, what exactly is going to happen to the money that this store brings in?  Will it be used for local programs of some sort?  What types of programs does Goodwill run and/or contribute to? Will the profits that are brought in from this store (from items that are donated at the store's location in Rotterdam) be used in local programs or will this money go to some other locality?

Thanks,

Kevin March

cc: http://www.rotterdamny.info

Good questions BK!!! Justin is pretty good. I think he will ask an either you will get a personal reply or we may read it in the gazette!