Goodwill's Beginning

In the late 1890's, Methodist minister Edgar J. Helms was seeking innovative ways to help the jobless, immigrant population in Boston. He began collecting unwanted household items and hired the jobless to repair and refurbish the items. Income from the resold items paid the workers' wages. The system worked and the Goodwill method of self-help was born. Goodwill Industries was formally incorporated in 1902 with job skills training programs and even rudimentary job placement services.

April of 1921 brought the establishment of Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit and the League for the Handicapped. A merger of the two organizations took place in 1970 and paved the way for a more efficient and comprehensive system of delivering services.

Our Mission

Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit provides people who have disabilities and other barriers to employment with opportunities to become independent, self-supporting citizens through training, work experience and employment in the community.