Teachers spend an average of $500 of their own money each school year on supplies. The Sharing TREE gives them a free resource for pens, pencils, arts and crafts supplies.

The center is a public-non-profit partnership. The founding partners are Leon County Schools, Goodwill Industries-Big Bend, Sustainable Tallahassee and Leon County Government.

Goodwill will pay Sharing TREE Director Carly Sinnadurai’s salary. They will also allow donations for the Sharing TREE to be dropped off at all Tallahassee Goodwill stores.

Every day, households and businesses throw away countless items that still have value to them. These materials can now be donated to the Sharing TREE to be used as instructional aids, student projects and even works of art. For example, broken glass and leftover wood can be transformed into a mosaic picture frame. Old samples from a carpet store become reading mats for a first-grade classroom.

 “We are putting resources into the hands of those who really need it,” Sinnadurai said.

Sinnadurai, who previously owned Salvage Art in Railroad Square, where she sold artwork made from reusable materials, said the community has already exceeded all of her expectations. Everything from binders to books has been donated.

If you would like to donate to this program, you can email Sinnadurai at thesharingtree@leonschools.net or drop off your donation at any Tallahassee Goodwill. If you would like to help financially, volunteer or become one of our partners, please email Sinnadurai.

If you travel the state highways of Bay or Calhoun counties, you’ll see them.

First you’ll spot the white King Cab pickup with the Goodwill logo and flashing yellow light, flatbed trailer in tow. Then you’ll spot the “Mule” off-road vehicles with their own flashing lights, moving rapidly back and forth on the roadside shoulders. There’ll be two workers in bright safety vests for each Mule, trash pickers in hand, leaning out of the Mules and making short work of roadside debris. Or, you’ll see them beside the King Cab muscling heavier items into the truck.

These are the hard-working members of Goodwill-Big Bend’s contract crew, doing their best to keep Florida beautiful.

Starting this past January, Goodwill-Big Bend, in partnership with Respect of Florida, began a one-year contract with the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT). Their mission is to pick up litter on selected state highways and to mow the grass around DOT holding ponds. DOT likes the contract crew’s work so much that they’ve already approved the contract for 2011 – and gave them a second contract, adding more highways to the list. This additional contract will allow Goodwill to hire many more workers and at least one additional supervisor.

Stan Womble, Goodwill – Big Bend’s Director of Contract Services, set up the program and successfully negotiated the deal with DOT. He hand-picked his two crew supervisors, Jason Ferguson and Kasey Wilson. Jason is in charge of the mowing and Kasey directs the roadside litter crew.

Jason and Kasey’s workers are individuals with disabilities who have proven themselves able to do the physical labor required. It’s hard, hot and sweaty work. The litter crew has to hustle to keep ahead of the DOT mowers. They use plenty of mosquito repellant, and keep a sharp eye out for poison ivy, snakes, and that most dangerous critter of all: Text-Messaging Drivers. The workers have to be constantly aware of fast-moving highway traffic as they roam the roadsides and center medians. “Safety first” is their motto.

The contract employees take great pride in what they do. The mission of Goodwill-Big Bend is to provide employment to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment, helping them to reach their fullest potential in supporting themselves and their families. The contract program is a part of the ongoing fulfillment of that mission.

James Pullen, Jazme Wells, Dustin Lovedahl, and Joshua Lovedahl. Not shown: Alex San Pedro and Reginald Daniels

Computers dropped off at any Goodwill donation center are taken to either of their computer and electronics recycling center/stores at 2800 W. Tennessee Street in Tallahassee or 13413 Panama City Beach Parkway.

Each donated computer is evaluated for resale or recycling and all hard drives are removed and either physically destroyed or wiped according to Department of Defense standards using a program called DBAN. This ensures that no personal data is left on the hard drives.

Computers to be resold are then diagnosed, repaired and loaded with Windows XP Professional to be sold either in the computer store or one of Goodwill Industries – Big Bend’s retail outlets.

Computers that can’t be refurbished, are sold for their commodity value. Buyers purchase the scrap computers and break them down into various commodities such as plastic, ferrous, and nonferrous metals for resell.

 Name brands such as Dell, HP, Compaq, Sony and Toshiba are displayed for sell in the computer stores. These include desktops as well laptops, printers and other computer accessories. TVs and other electronics are also sold in the computers stores or fully recycled if not suitable for resale.

We received reports of Management Occupancy Reviews conducted in March at the four Georgia Villages. The GIBB Villages in Bainbridge, Cairo, Thomasville & Thomasville II each received superior ratings. Superior is the top rating…the best you can get. We achieved superior on all four Georgia properties on management & occupancy criteria. The Management & Occupancy Review rates property appearance, maintenance, financial management, occupancy and management among other things.

We have also obtained the scores for the REAC inspections in Georgia in April. REAC is Real Estate Assessment Center, a HUD office. REAC inspections are very detailed inspections of the interior and exterior of all apartments, all buildings. We received excellent scores. Bainbridge scored 92, Thomasville scored 94 and Thomasville II scored 99!

We have scored 100 in the past, and a 99. But those inspections were scattered throughout a year or more. These Management Reviews and REAC inspections all occurred in late March and April. We have one more Management Review and two more REAC inspections. Then we will celebrate!!

I am very proud of our Residential team. Our maintenance workers Ben, Jaime, Chuck, Marvin, Rudy, Derek, Willie and Franklin (borrowed from Support Services) all worked long, hard hours to prepare for the REAC Inspections. Each of the apartment managers (Tom, Rudy, Shawanna, Marsha, Jacki, Rita, and Marie) audited each others files to reach near perfection in the Management Reviews. Jovita Bakker inspected apartments and buildings, files, procedures, and Karen Conklin produced financial reports. The inspections are stressful and require real teamwork in preparation. Superior teams earn superior ratings.

 As you clear out items you no longer need this spring, consider donating them to Goodwill instead of throwing them away. As an environmental pioneer for 45 years, Goodwill helps divert millions of pounds of items from landfills each year. Your donations fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based services for people with disabilities, those who lack education or job experience, and others facing challenges to finding employment.

  Goodwill Industries – Big Bend also accepts donations of computers and computer equipment for recycling. The items donated are either refurbished and resold or broken down into parts to be recycled. The revenue from the recycled computer equipment supports Goodwill’s job training and career services.

 Your donations of gently used items support Goodwill’s commitment to preserve the environment and strengthen families and communities. To find your nearest Goodwill donation site, click “Donations” and “Attended Donation Centers.”

Dick Howser Child Care Center has served children ages birth to 5 years old since 1974. For many years, they have been next door to our main facility on Mabry Street. Their Early Intervention Program provides training and therapy for children with developmental disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Down’s Syndrome, mental retardation, Muscular Dystrophy, and genetic disorders. Their Preschool Program provides preschool for peers or siblings age 6 weeks to 3 years. It is the only program of its kind in this area.

By helping these children in their early years, they will be more prepared to reach their fullest potential as productive and self-supporting adults. Maybe they won’t need our services as adults, but even if they do, they will be they will be better prepared to succeed through job placement programs.

There is also the incentive to keep the center operating so that parents can keep working. Many of these special needs children would not be accepted in other day care program, forcing a parent to stay home to care for them.

Our goal is to help these centers regain financial stability and continue helping children with special needs receive the therapy and training essential for their proper development.

 Tallahassee – Haiti Medical Team is a team of volunteer doctors, nurses and members of the community.  Traveling team 1 consisted of 12 volunteers and they departed Tuesday March 9^th for a 5 day trip. They served 160 patients. 

 They are not just planning for one trip, already traveling team 2 and traveling team 3 are being put in place to travel in April and May.  The goal is to leave the 2^nd Tuesday of every month.  The main mission of this medical team is to take casts of the amputees, bring the casts back to Tallahassee, travel the next month to deliver the prosthetics and take more casts.  The team is trained and expects to face other situations. 

 The team leader is Dr. Woodie Smith.  Dr. Woodie has made numerous trips to Dumay, Haiti, closest airport Port-au-Prince, prior to the earthquake and has many established relationships.  He has arranged to take up to 46,000 lbs of supplies with his team for the March 9^th trip.  After speaking to other Doctors who have visited they all said, “yes take all the medical supplies you can, but take food as well.  They are starving.” 

 If you are interested in joining a traveling team, contact Christine DeCoteau, Coordinator at christinedecoteau@gmail.com or 904-236-8460.

 You do not have to get on the plane to be on the team”

 This is when Goodwill became part of the team.  Goodwill Big Bend has locations throughout 22 counties and offered to be a collection site for the community to get involved and donate items in need.

 NEEDED ITEMS FROM THE COMMUNITY:

(In largest bags/boxes you can find)

Rice

Beans

Oil

Water

Soap

Crutches

Goodwill Industries – Big Bend, Inc. has received an AmeriCorps grant funded through the Corporation for National and Community Service. The grant will allow us to increase the number of people we serve through GIBB Career Training Centers.

Goodwill Industries – Big Bend, Inc.’s mission is to provide job training, education and employment to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment, helping them to reach their fullest potential in supporting themselves and their families.

National Service programs are intended to strengthen communities by relying on their own citizens’ talents. Becoming an AmeriCorps member is an opportunity to make a difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. It’s a chance to apply your skills and ideals toward helping others and meeting critical needs in the community. National Service programs, AmeriCorps, and Goodwill Industries – Big Bend share the same goal: providing services to the community while helping those in need to become self sufficient.

The focus of the AmeriCorps Goodwill GoodWorks! Program is to recruit AmeriCorps members and volunteers to provide services to our program participants in order to strengthen the whole family and transition to stability. The members and volunteers will primarily assist with training, community resource connections, and housing connections. They will help in training areas such as computers, financial literacy, GED, keyboarding, and office skills. Members will also connect clients with community resources so they can get financially stable. This will be done by helping them find employment and overcome barriers. Barriers can involve lack of computer skills, money management, and lack of reliable transportation. Assisting with housing connections will help clients who are homeless find safe and stable housing as well as assist in overcoming other barriers.

Volunteers are an untapped resource and can provide an immeasurable service to not only the community but to the individuals themselves. There are people out there who currently volunteer as mentors, tutors, coaches, story tellers at libraries and many other roles.

Volunteers are out there. There are people out there who take civic responsibility very important, the AmeriCorps Goodwill GoodWorks! Program goal is to recruit those same members and volunteers to provide services directly to their communities. If you are interested in making a real and tangible difference in your community by volunteering for the AmeriCorps Goodwill GoodWorks! Program, call Susie Arce in Panama City at 850-522-3900 or email sarce@goodwillbigbend.com.