Click this link to get started:

http://donate.goodwill.org/support/calculate-your-impact/

We believe that all children benefit when they are able to play and learn with their friends in a positive, nurturing, and caring environment that emphasizes each child’s unique gifts and capabilities.  Our agency provides a variety of services for young children in inclusive infant, toddler, and preschool programs.  By this we mean, children who have developmental disabilities or delays share the same play and learning environment as their typically developing friends.  All of our children will be involved in developmentally appropriate activities that are designed to maximize each child’s growth.  Special education and physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy services are available on-site for those children who need some extra help

Please take time to read this handbook.  It contains important information that will help make your child’s early school experience a positive one.  The program director and other staff members will be happy to answer any questions that you have.  We welcome family involvement and encourage you to visit your child’s classroom at any time.  Thanks again for giving us the opportunity to be part of this very important time in your child’s life.

Parent Handbook 2010

 Goodwill is thrilled to be part of an amazing Leon County community project benefiting teachers, schools and the environment. Thanks to a collaboration with Goodwill, Leon County Schools, Sustainable Tallahassee and Leon County, we will be opening a “free” store for Leon County public school teachers.

The Sharing TREE (Teachers Reusing Everything for Education) is a reusable resource center where donated new and gently used items are available to teachers free of charge. Every day, households and businesses throw away countless items that still have value to them. These materials now have the opportunity to be transformed into instructional aids, student projects and even works of art. The Sharing TREE is located on Lively Technical Center’s campus and will open in August 2010.

Carly J. Sinnadurai, executive director of The Sharing Tree, is an FSU art education graduate and has experience with reusable resource centers. In her hometown of Minneapolis, she began to shop at a similarly ran store at the age of 4 and worked there later before moving to Tallahassee.

“Not knowing it at the time, this would shape much of who I am today. Being a thrifty artist and environmentalist, I have always wanted another center here in our community,” she said.

Carly hit the ground running on June 1^st, getting the keys to the building, pallets of donations, and planning an opening in mid-August before school starts.

“Everyone is excited about this program; it is a win-win,” she said. “Businesses and organizations no longer have to send things to our landfills. With a little bit of creativity, materials can be transformed into something our schools can use.”

If you would like to donate to this program you can email Carly Sinnadurai @ thesharingtree@leonschools.net or drop off your donation at any local Goodwill. If you would like to help financially, volunteer or become one of our partners please email and we will be happy to have your support.

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.