Our Story

GOODWILL IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A THRIFT STORE, OUR STORY IS ABOUT CHANGING LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF WORK.

OUR HISTORY

Goodwill Industries of Central East Texas, Inc. is a part of a national organization known as Goodwill Industries International (GII). GII includes approximately 179 local Goodwill’s in the United States and Canada and approximately 53 Goodwill’s in 37 other countries around the world.

The Goodwill “movement” began in Boston, Massachusetts around the beginning of the 20th century, under the leadership of Edgar J. Helms. A Methodist minister, Helms sought to help his poor disadvantaged congregation that was made up of mostly Irish immigrants who were unable to find work. Reverend Helms conceived the idea of having people with disabilities and disadvantaging conditions earn income by collecting and selling used goods donated by those more fortunate.

The mission of Goodwill has not changed much since that beginning, believing in “The Power of Work”, and the employability for all people.

Goodwill began operating in Lufkin as a branch store of the Tyler Goodwill in 1983. Since that time, the operation has grown to include three stores, one each in Lufkin, Nacogdoches, and Diboll. This operation became independent, or autonomous, on January 1, 1988 and is governed by a Board of Directors made up of local business people from the area served which includes, Angelina, Nacogdoches, Houston, San Augustine, Sabine and Trinity counties.

Goodwill is actually owned by the community it serves and the Board of Directors acts as the community representative to ensure that Goodwill serves the community in a responsible way.