Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina was founded in 1926 by Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem to provide a means of employment for the community’s residents with disabilities. Clothing and other items were gathered from community members and then repaired and sold by citizens with disabilities. Over time, Goodwill expanded its mission to include individuals with socioeconomic barriers to employment. The philosophy of “a hand up, not a hand out” was the impetus for the founding of Goodwill and the organization remains committed to that concept today.
