Goodwill & The Mustard Seed

Press Release & Media Availability

Goodwill Industries of Alberta and The Mustard Seed

Edmonton AB (June 3, 2021) – Volunteer placements have been in a holding pattern since the COVID-19 outbreak in March of last year. This left many people without a place to contribute back to their community. This was even more evident at Goodwill’s Career Connection program.

With the assistance of many wonderful organizations and the launch of Goodwill’s Volunteer Hub, volunteer placements have steadily increased, providing purpose and training for those with disabilities. This Volunteer Hub has become a training ground for those with barriers who wish to enter the workforce.

Today, in partnership with The Mustard Seed, the organizations are announcing a new initiative: The Providing Aid Cooperatively Project. The PAC project looks to get basic supplies into the hands of vulnerable community members who require these items immediately. These supply packages consist of a variety of items depending on seasonal needs and campaigns within The Mustard Seed. Examples include Hygiene Packs, Wellness Kits, Summer Safety Kits, and more! For more visit: https://theseed.ca/pac

Jocelyn Lapointe, Mustard Seed Thrift Store Supervisor is proud and excited to spread the good in our community with Goodwill.

“We share a lot of the same passions including employment, sustainable shopping and support of Edmonton’s most vulnerable. Through this partnership we will collaborate, grow, and serve the communities we serve while employing people with a variety of barriers”.

With the help of Goodwill, volunteers and individuals with disabilities at the Career Connection program will individually package these items, so they are safe and they are ready for distribution for The Mustard Seed patrons.

The partnership between the organizations highlights how two non-for-profits can provide for their mission, while working together to support the greater good of the community.

You can see more on the PAC project by visiting The Mustard Seed and Goodwill Industries of Alberta.

Media Contact

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About Goodwill Industries of Alberta: Creating positive change since 1963, Goodwill’s mission is to provide Albertans with disabilities the opportunity to enhance their lives through meaningful employment. Goodwill Alberta is one of the largest employers of Albertans with disabilities; with 30% of Goodwill employees having a self-disclosed disability. We provide employment opportunities in our thrift stores and an accommodating work environment for Albertans with disabilities in Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, Grand Prairie and Calgary. Our Edmonton based Career Connections program has been providing employment coaching, job search, and training to individuals with developmental disabilities for decades. The success of Goodwill’s retail operations revolves around the generosity of people in our community choosing to donate to Goodwill and shop at our thrift stores. Every year over one million Albertans shop at Goodwill, and more than 700,000 Albertans donate to Goodwill; 89.2% of all revenues go back into our mission and remains in Alberta. We are also a major recycler of a growing range of donated items; we recycle more than 16 million kg every year.  We are a donor-driven charitable society and we have been proudly serving Albertans for nearly 60 years.

About The Mustard Seed: The Mustard Seed is a Christian non-profit organization that has been caring for men, women, and children experiencing poverty and homelessness since 1984. The Mustard Seed provides a safe haven where we support the whole person through delivering basic services, housing, wellness services, employment programs, and partners with the community to address the root causes of poverty.

theseed.ca