our mission has been the same since 1983.
We provide opportunities for people with barriers to employment.
OUR STORY:
Founded in 1983, Goodwill West Texas is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization consisting of 15 retail stores serving a 35 county area. As an organization, we empower people, helping them fulfill their potential, improve the lives of their families, and contribute to the growth of our shared communities.
Our organization began when Ray King, an Abilene native, partnered with a group of local leaders to establish Goodwill for his son Brian (pictured below as a child in photo 2 and as an adult in photo 4) who had a barrier. Our first location opened up in Abilene off of Pine Street. (pictured below in photos 1) in 1983. Up until Brian's retirement, he was the longest-standing employee at the organization. He still visits us as a volunteer to hang clothes.
In collaboration with a network of other local resource providers, Goodwill West Texas continually strives to broaden its scope of job training and employment services in alignment with our core mission of providing opportunities for people with barriers to employment.
Goodwill West Texas is so much more than a place to donate used household goods or shop for great deals—we’re not “just a thrift store.” At our core, we’re a mission-driven organization focused on changing lives through the power of work. In fact, 87 cents of every dollar earned in our stores goes directly into programs that support our team members and help individuals in our community overcome barriers to employment.
When you donate your new or gently used items and choose to shop with us, you're doing more than cleaning out a closet or finding a bargain—you’re helping transform lives and invest in brighter futures, right here in West Texas.
Global mission: proudly local
Goodwill West Texas is one of 15 different Goodwill organizations in Texas and part of a network of 156 community-based, independent Goodwill organizations in the United States and Canada with a presence in 12 other countries.
While we are part of the larger Goodwill network and share in its mission to help people overcome barriers to employment, we are proud to be a locally governed, community-focused nonprofit.
That means decisions about our programs, services, and stores are made right here in West Texas—by our local executive team and Board of Directors who know and care about the unique needs of our region. Every donation, every purchase, and every job created through Goodwill West Texas stays right here to support the 35 counties we serve.
Together with other Goodwill organizations, we form a powerful network united by one mission—but grounded locally in heart, service, and purpose.
The Original Goodwill Industries:
The original Goodwill Industries was founded in 1902 by Reverend Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator. Helms collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of Boston, then trained and hired those who were poor to mend and repair the used goods. The goods were either resold or given to the people who repaired them. The system worked, and the Goodwill philosophy of "a hand up, not a hand out" was born.
As the model proved successful, it began spreading to other cities. But rather than operating as a single, national organization, each new Goodwill was established as an independent nonprofit, guided by the same mission but governed locally. This allows every Goodwill organization to tailor its programs and services to meet the unique needs of the communities it serves.
Reverend Helms remained involved in the organization until his passing in 1942 when he was still serving as a spokesperson, visionary ambassador, and passionate advocate for the mission and its values of dignity, self-sufficiency, and opportunity.
Goodwill Industries' mission is to enhance people’s dignity and quality of life by strengthening their communities, eliminating their barriers to opportunity, and helping them reach their full potential through learning and the power of work. By donating your new or gently used items, and shopping in our stores, you are helping us carry forward the mission sparked by the need Reverend Helms saw so many years ago- creating opportunity, restoring dignity, and changing lives through the power of work.
“Friends of Goodwill, be dissatisfied with your work until every person in your community has an opportunity to develop to their fullest usefulness and enjoy a maximum of abundant living.”
— Rev. Edgar J. Helms, Founder
While Goodwill West Texas is affiliated with Goodwill Industries International in name and logo, each Goodwill functions autonomously within its respective community.