Goodwill provides job services

WINTERSVILLE - Finding community people employment in an area where the economy is uncertain and employment opportunities are limited is the main task that Karen Chichick tends to each day.

As a job development specialist for the Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio located at 103 Main St., Chichick busies herself with networking in the area in search of jobs available, as well as providing those who need assistance in finding employment with the skills they need.

"My main purpose is to help people find employment in the community," Chichick said. "I attend human resource network meetings to find out what's available as well as offer job training in our (Wintersville) office. We do all kinds of things."

Among the services Goodwill provides in addition to job placement are work evaluations, job coaching and helping people to gain community work experience.

"We also teach resume writing skills, computer lab training and customer service training," Chichick said. "I recently led a customer service sensitivity training session for employees at Wyngate (Senior Living Community). The session basically teaches employees how to dress properly and how to have manners. It teaches them how to treat patients. It covers a whole range of things."

The experience and education levels of those who seek out the services provided often varies, Chichick noted.

"We can help people earn their GEDs or college graduates in need of job placement," Chichick said. "We even assist people in search of second careers. I recently had a man in here who worked for 20 years but his company closed down and he was looking for another job. We give people guidance for what might benefit them."

She added Goodwill offers career testing to help people get an idea for what they are best suited.

"We don't have an abundance of employment opportunities here," Chichick said. "You have to get the people to realize that and what they are qualified for."

Wintersville Goodwill store supervisor Kathy Gruber said the services Goodwill provides also helps people with their self-esteem.

"It's better if someone is out there working," Gruber said. "It gives them pride to know they have a paycheck coming."

Each of their services, Chichick noted, encompasses the company's mission statement.

"Our mission is 'to improve the quality of life and employment opportunities for the people in the communities we serve,'" Chichick said. "Everything thing we do revolves around that."

As one of the 21 agencies aided by the United Way of Jefferson County, Chichick said Goodwill receives designated funding through the United Way from donors who specify that they want their donations to go to Goodwill, and Goodwill partners with the United Way each year in the Day of Caring, which was observed Thursday.

"We work with (Goodwill) in different areas," said Suzanne Kresser, executive director of the local United Way. "They are a partnering agency in which they receive designated funding. We support them and what they do."

During the Day of Caring, employees from other United Way agencies and volunteers work at the Wintersville Goodwill store for a day. This year, Goodwill hosted the employees from J.C Penney at the Fort Steuben Mall.

"(The Day of Caring) raises another company's awareness of what we do here," Gruber said. "It's a learning session for them. Our main thing is to have a lot of fun."

"They think it's a neat experience," Chichick said. "Some even want to come back again as volunteers."

Chichick noted that the Day of Caring is "a team effort" between Goodwill and the United Way. She added that the company's employees also do what they can to give back to the United Way each year.

"They fill out their own pledge cards," Chichick said. "Last year we had 100 percent of our employees donate to the United Way. They can have something taken out of each paycheck or make one large donation."

"It doesn't matter what you give, just as long as you give," Gruber added.

The goal for this year's United Way of Jefferson County campaign, Live United, is $440,000. For information about Goodwill services, call (740) 264-7200, or to make a donation to Goodwill, call (740) 264-6648.

Donations to the United Way can be sent to 501 Washington St., Steubenville, OH 43952. To reach the United Way, call (740) 284-9000; send a fax to (740) 283-2103; send an e-mail to smk@unitedwayjc.org; or go to www.unitedway-jc.org.

(Sadler may be contacted at bsadler@heraldstaronline.com.)