How Goodwill Works

Goodwill Industries-Knoxville is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to changing lives and strengthening families by helping people reach their full potential through community-relevant job training, work experience, and career services.

Donate

Donations help people and the environment! Clothing, furniture and household goods like books, toys and dishes stay in use and out of the landfill.
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Shop

Find quality clothes and household items for the whole family at a fraction of the price at Goodwill's 27 regional retail stores.
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Provide Training

Proceeds from the sale of donated support Goodwill's job training programs and employment services for individuals with barriers to employment.
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change lives.jpg — Change Lives

When given the proper training and support, individuals are able to obtain and maintain meaningful employment and are able to contribute to their community.
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Our Impact

In 2023, more than 2.7 million pounds of textiles, metal, and computers were diverted from the landfill through donations to Goodwill Industries-Knoxville. 1,608 individuals were served through our programs. Additionally, $2,212,556 was paid to employees with disabilities or other barriers.

See Our 2023 Annual Report

Goodwill Works: Meet Tenille

Being a teenager is difficult in the best of situations but a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, severe anxiety, and manic depression, can almost make life devastating. Tabitha “Tenille” Ochoa was this teenager labeled with these disabilities. She spent a great deal of time during her teen years in and out of hospitals. During this time, she required medications to address the specific diagnosis symptoms. Relationships within the family were tested and her ability to look to the future was bleak.

Goodwill Works: Meet Jennifer

Jennifer Carson knew early on she wanted to have a job so she could earn her own money - her first thoughts about being employed began in high school. She wanted a job so she could earn her own money to use how she pleased while spending time with her friends.

Goodwill Works: Meet Katie

Weighing in at one pound, nine ounces at birth and spending four months in the NICU at Children’s Hospital, Katie never expected to fast forward to 2019 with such successes under her belt.

Goodwill Works: Meet Julie

Julie was ready to enter the workforce again after being a stay-at-home mom. She always wanted to work at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and was bound and determined to get her computer skills up to date so she could reenter the workforce…

Goodwill Works: Meet Callie

Callie was running in different directions to try to make her dream come true. Her dream: to have her scratch-made jam business be her single income source, but Callie was juggling three part-time jobs…

Goodwill Works: Meet Dennis

Happy Father’s Day to Dennis! Find out how he landed his new job and is helping support his family.

Goodwill Week: Meet the CNAs

The CNA program at Goodwill is one of our most popular programs. In celebration of National Goodwill Week, check out what our most recent graduates have to say about their experience.

Goodwill Week: Meet Jesse

For National Goodwill we’re celebrating the success of our program participants; check out how Jesse had grown and moved on to the next chapter in his life.

Goodwill Week: Meet Anjanette

It’s National Goodwill Week; let’s celebrate the successes of our amazing program participants! Anjanette, a mother of two, is on that road to success with the help of Goodwill’s SPACE program.

Goodwill Week: Meet Sarah

It’s National Goodwill Week and to celebrate we’re spotlighting several of our program participants: Sarah is living her dream job in the medical field. Find out how Sarah got the certification and support she needed to get to work!

Goodwill Week: Meet Heather

For National Goodwill Week we’re highlighting several of our successful and amazing program participants. Heather is feeling great about her new job at a local retail boutique. Check out her story!

Meet the Goodwill Award Winners

On April 11, we celebrated determination, perseverance and success at the 47th Annual Goodwill Awards. Meet the 2017 Goodwill Award winners!

Meet Jillian: Free CNA Training to Launch Medical Career

Jillian is starting her medical career for free thanks to Goodwill's partnership with the SNAP Employment and Training Program!

Give Yourself a Boost: Meet Clair

Clair is well on her way to a great career thanks to the support she received at Goodwill. Find out how she made Goodwill work for her, and how you can do the same!

Give the Gift of Empowerment: Meet Charisse

Charisse has been a caregiver her whole life, but without a certification, she didn't feel like she was living up to her potential.

Breaking Barriers: Meet Jennifer

After experiencing complications during brain surgery, Jennifer had to take a multi-year break from working while she regained some basic skills. When she decided she was ready to enter the workforce again, she came to Goodwill to find the support she needed.

Learning Again: Meet Linda

Goodwill’s clients come from all walks of life. Some have never worked before, or have never developed the specific skills they need to enter the workplace. Others, like Linda Kupferer, find themselves needing support later in life due to an accident or injury.

Goodwill Works: Meet Caleb

When Caleb found himself homeless and jobless, he decided to make a change with the help of Goodwill.

Rising to the Challenge: Goodwill Week 2017 Recap

May 8-12th, we celebrated National Goodwill Week. And, boy, did we celebrate! In case you missed it, check out our recap of the jam-packed week!

Goodwill Works: Meet Becky

When you're out of the work force for an extended period of time, getting a job can be a daunting task. Becky came to Goodwill for the support she needed to find the job.

Goodwill Works: Meet Martha

Martha's world flipped upside down when she lost her job of seven years. Fortunately, Martha and her husband found ways to keep moving forward.

Goodwill Works: Meet Alisha

Alisha came to Goodwill after an injury left her without work. She had to start fresh and rebuild a different set of work skills. Now, she's almost ready to land a new job and get back to work!

Goodwill Works: Meet Tavi

Tavi came to Goodwill so she could get some help finding a job. Now, she loves where she works and says she had a great time in Goodwill's training programs.

Our Leadership

Board of Directors 2023

Chairperson: Mr. John H. Ley, Senior Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager, FirstBank

Chairperson-Elect: Mr. Connor Miles, Financial Planning and Analysis, InhabitIQ

Secretary-Treasurer: Dr. Amy Skinner, LPC/MHSP, Clinical Therapist

President & CEO: Ms. Elizabeth Nother

Directors:

Mr. Steve Carr, Community Volunteer

Mr. Wade Esau, Director of Technical Services, Elo Touch Solutions

Ms. Megan Hatcher, Commercial Developer & Property Manager, Hatcher Hill Properties, LLC

Dr. Amelia Hart, Lecturer, Accounting & Information Management, University of Tennessee

Mr. Bob Kesling, Director of Broadcasting, VOL Network

Mr. Ryan McNally, Attorney/Vice President, Appalachian Title Company, LLC

Ms. Heather Hubbard Morgan, Assistant VP for Research, Outreach & Economic Development, University of Tennessee

Ms. Tara Duncan Richardson, Director, Knox County Probation

Leadership Team

Meaghan Johnson, Vice President of Workforce Development

Nicole Knoxville, Senior Vice President of Retail

Johnny Lane, Vice President of Operations and Commercial Services

David White, Vice President of Finance

Amanda Brackett, Marketing Director

Our History

Goodwill Industries-International was founded more than 100 years ago by Edgar James Helms, a Methodist minister in Boston, Massachusetts. In Boston, Helms sought ways to assist residents in the city's impoverished South End. Helms collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of the city and then hired and trained the poor and immigrants to repair the used goods. These donations were resold or given to the people who repaired them.

Since this time, Goodwill's mission has grown into an international movement, improving the quality of life for disabled and disadvantaged individuals around the world.

Goodwill Industries-Knoxville, Inc. was founded in 1971 to fill the need for a community program for the young disabled population. The organization was meager in it's beginning, but has since expanded to serve over 1,790 in 2022.

Our Service Area

Our service area includes Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union County. We operate 27 stores throughout our 15-county East Tennessee service area. Find a store near you.