Job training and financial education programs are a crucial part of helping handicapped and disadvantaged people gain the skills and knowledge they need to survive. Donated cars are a big part of helping these programs start and expand to continue to help more people. The proceeds from donated cars go towards supporting these and other programs and are deeply appreciated by Goodwill and program participants.

More than fifty people are the proud graduates and recipients of job certificates form the Goodwill Industries of Southern Piedmont’s job training program. It is estimated that more than have of the graduates will find employment within three months. The program is open to all that would like to enroll and offers training in hospitality and tourism, construction and banking as well as customer service. In recent years the enrollment numbers have more than doubled undoubtedly due to the extremely competitive job market brought on by the struggling economy. Goodwill is helping these people acquire new skills that will make them qualified candidates for many of the jobs that are in demand today. Another kind of program offered by Goodwill is the car donation program. This program uses donated cars that are still running as transportation for those in need and cars that aren’t running are usually used for parts.

The face of participants in this and similar programs is also changing. Although Goodwill’s programs are consecrated to helping the disadvantaged and disabled become prepared to enter the workforce as viable job candidates, a flourishing number of people are coming out of retirement in order to make ends meet and are finding that they need new skills. Such was the case for Linda Lorde who just graduated from Goodwill’s job training program with a certificate in hospitality and tourism and hopes to find employment in that field. Stories like hers are becoming more common each day and with the help of people who donate their cars to charity which help provide funding these programs can continue.