Goodwill Gulf Coast

📚 We are thrilled to announce that Lori Crenshaw has been selected as the 2026 Goodwill Gulf Coast Gold Star Teacher! 🏆

Since 2008, Lori’s dedication, passion, and commitment to her students make a lasting impact every day. This morning, Elizabeth Dominick had the honor of presenting her with the Gold Star Teacher certificate during a GED intake. Please join us in celebrating Lori for this well-deserved recognition! 👏

What perfect weather for water day today at Kaleidoscope Goodwill Gulf Coast!!

Goodwill Gulf Coast’s Military Respite Program is here to help active-duty military families caring for children with special needs. 💙🇺🇸

Through this program, Air Force and Navy families in Northwest Florida can receive respite care services for children up to age 18 diagnosed with special needs, including autism, mobility challenges, feeding tubes, communication needs, and more.

Goodwill coordinates the program with Child Care Aware for eligible families stationed at NAS Pensacola, NAS Whiting Field, Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, and Tyndall Air Force Base. ✈️

Families are matched with trusted providers who meet Child Care Aware of America standards and receive training in CPR, First Aid, and other important safety skills. Family members can also train to be a provider for their loved ones. “It makes it easier for the family if they want a date night, if they want to go to the grocery, or if they just want a break in general, they use their trusted provider in order to do that.” says Tina Steen, Respite Program Manager.

To learn more about the Military Respite Program, visit our website or contact Goodwill Gulf Coast. ✨

A big thank you to Educators Resource on Schillinger Road for their generous donation of school supplies. ✏️

Items donated include scissors, folders, glue, pencil sharpeners, highlighters, and many other helpful classroom materials. These supplies are already being put to good use in our education programs, including the GED classes at the Azalea Opportunity Center. 🎓

Support like this helps our students have the tools they need to learn, grow, and work toward their goals. We are grateful for community partners who invest in education and opportunity. 📚

♻️ From Dorm Room to Doing Good ♻️

The first year of the dorm move-out project was fantastic! Andre Winston, our Director of Donated Goods, Growth and Logistics, worked with University of West Florida, The University of South Alabama, Spring Hill College, and the University of Mobile to collect unwanted items the day students moved out of the dorms. Instead of heading to landfills, the items can be sold in Goodwill's Retail Stores across South Alabama and Northwest Florida. 🎓 Proceeds directly support our mission to provide job training, employment placement services, and community programs for individuals in need, helping to strengthen our local workforce and create opportunities across our local community. 💙

The Mobile Area Development Directors will hear Goodwill's Vice President of Marketing & Development, Tony Zodrow, talk about Capital Campaigns for Non-Profits on June 10th!

Join the Mobile Area Development Directors for “Capital Campaigns: Step by Step” on June 10 at 11:00 a.m. 📈💙

Tony Zodrow, Vice President of Marketing and Development for Goodwill Gulf Coast, will be the featured speaker and will discuss capital project fundraising and how to conduct a successful campaign. 👏

The meeting will take place at Goodwill Gulf Coast, located at 2440 Gordon Smith Dr., Mobile, AL 36617. 📍

Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mobile-area-development-directors-june-meeting-tickets-1990594302143?aff=oddtdtcreator

Congratulations to Betsy Key on her retirement after 15 years of service with Goodwill Gulf Coast. 🎂

Betsy oversees our Work Training Center and contracts with the federal building in Mobile and the Coast Guard base, helping create meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. 💼 Betsy has always led with genuine respect and admiration for the people she served. Her work provides structure, training, opportunity, employment, and pride for so many individuals who are part of Goodwill’s mission every day. 👑 Congratulations on your retirement, Betsy, and thank you for the incredible impact you have made.

👕 New Merch Drop at Spanish Fort! 👕

We’ve got brand new Goodwill t-shirts available now at our Spanish Fort retail store!

📍 10718 Eastern Shore Blvd, Spanish Fort, AL
💲 $20 each
📏 Sizes XS – 2XL (limited quantities!)

The best part? Every purchase supports our Kaleidoscope Adult Day Program for adults with disabilities who want to remain active and engaged in structured daytime activities including arts and crafts, music therapy, recreational games, exercise classes, and life skills training. 🙌

👉 Tag a friend who would rock a Vintage Vibes or Thrift Queen shirt. Don’t wait! 👀