Dear fellow Kentuckians,
Like all of you, we at Goodwill are grieved at the devastation caused by the recent tornadoes that tore through western Kentucky. The pictures show the destruction itself, but we know that the real picture includes a long struggle back to normalcy for those who survived. Most of all, we grieve the lives that were lost.
Goodwill has a presence throughout Kentucky, from Pikeville to Paducah, as we like to say. We have 67 retail locations in 45 communities, and we assist Kentuckians dealing with poverty and other adverse circumstances to stabilize their lives and reenter the workforce, so they can build a new life.
We’re not a disaster relief agency, and we won’t try to take the place of organizations that specialize in that. But this feels like a time when there’s a role for everyone, and we want to use Goodwill’s skills and resources to support the communities and individuals who have lost so much.
First, Goodwill will prioritize support to our own employees. Our many career coaches are contacting every person who may have been affected, to understand how we can best support them and their families.
Second, we want to use our network of stores to get the gently used goods that generous Kentuckians give to Goodwill into the hands of people who need clothing and other essentials immediately. We’ll make free vouchers available for use in our western Kentucky stores where people from affected areas are likely to shop. Kentuckians throughout the state who want to get goods to tornado victims can be assured that if you bring your donation to any of our locations, we will use our transportation system to move goods to where they are needed.
Third, if you want to support the tornado victims with a financial contribution, we have two ways to make it easy for you. Now through January 31, we’ll dedicate all financial donations made on www.Goodwillky.org to the “Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund” established by Gov. Andy Beshear. Also, if you shop our stores and “round-up” your purchase at the registers, that money will also be sent to the tornado relief fund through January 31.
Finally, our marketing communications team has established a resource portal on our website, showing the names, contact information and links to organizations offering resources that tornado victims will need. It’s a one-stop location for people to learn where they can find help and can be accessed at www.Goodwillky.org/wky-disaster-relief.
This is a time when all Kentuckians can show our neighbors in western Kentucky that we’re with them and ready to support their recovery. We’re ready to put Goodwill to work, to do our part to help!
In partnership,
Amy Luttrell
President & CEO
Goodwill Industries of Kentucky