Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas

For more than 50 years in Northwest Texas, Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas (GINWT) has helped people in our local community find jobs, support their families and feel the satisfaction that comes from earning a paycheck.  

When you donate or shop Goodwill, you are contributing to your community, as revenue remains in the local area. Many people are surprised to learn that Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas (GINWT) is independently and locally operated and governed by a local Board of Directors for the benefit of the area's community.  

Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister. Public response was overwhelming as Helms collected used household goods and clothing in the more affluent areas of the city, then trained and hired those in need of work to clean, repair and sell the donated items. The goods were then sold in the basement of Helms’ little church and the funds were used to pay the workers. The business model was a success, and the Goodwill philosophy of “a hand up, not a hand out,” was born.

Through grants, community donations and the sell of gently used, donated goods, GINWT funds its Training, Placement and Life Skills (T-PALS) program, which offers computer skills training and other employment development training services, at no charge to the participant. 

Of special note is that all T-PALS program services are being offered in person and virtually to accommodate the need for limits on face-to-face interactions due to the pandemic and to allow individuals from surrounding areas unable to travel to our centers, the ability to take advantage of all services, including: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Computer Skills Training, Employment Development and Career Enhancement Seminars and more. 

Goodwill's primary efforts are aimed at creating job opportunities for people with barriers to employment. Retail profits stay local to help fund job training at the agency's Training, Placement and Life Skills Program (T-PALS) career centers in Amarillo and Lubbock at no charge to participants.

The T-PALS program offers basic, intermediate and advanced computer skills training, employment development training and career enhancement seminars, along with weekly Learn to Zoom classes. Participants in the T-PALS program work closely with a T-PALS Employment Specialist in order to self-identify their unique barriers to employment in order to overcome them. T-PALS staff also partners with the United Way of Amarillo and Canyon (and Lubbock Area United Way) and a large network of community agencies in order to provide referrals to meet participants basic needs and connect to other resources for assistance with life challenges. 

T-PALS centers also offer walk-in computer skills training and phone banks to allow job seekers the opportunity to access the internet and phones for job seeking activities, including: writing cover letters and developing resumes; access to Goodwill's free learning site, GCFLearnFree.org, which provides opportunities to practice typing skills, math, grammar and more.  

To find out more about T-PALS in person and virtual services, go to www.GWTraining.org or visit GINWT's website at www.GoodwillNWTexas.org.