Our History
In 1919 Rev. John S. German and a group of prominent civic leaders incorporated the Baltimore Goodwill Industries and opened the first factory in the Fellowship Hall of the Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church. Two indigent employees were hired to stencil and fold burlap bags that would be sent out to collect reclaimable household goods that could be sold. Proceeds would pay the workers and make the operation self-sustainable. Burlap bags and the jobs they created would come to symbolize the origins of the new organization whose slogan was " Not a charity, but a chance".
Over the next thirty years, Goodwill’s collection efforts grew dramatically. Household collection bags were supplemented by donation drives led by the Boy and Girl Scouts, and Goodwill boxes were placed throughout the metropolitan area to keep up with the growing demand for collection services. Later Goodwill reached out to local communities with mobile donation centers staffed by Goodwill employees. These donation centers and the retail stores they supplied soon became synonymous with the name Goodwill.
In 1948, Goodwill’s commitment to helping others took a giant step forward with a vocational training program established jointly with state and federal agencies. By 1955 the program was certified as a non-public vocational training facility, among Maryland’s first, and nearly 200 people with disabilities had been prepared to join the ranks of independent citizens. At about the same time, Goodwill accepted the first of many contracts to provide industrial services to local businesses. Such contracts provided companies with top quality workers and gainful employment to individuals with severe disabilities. With the establishment of a vocational training facility and the cr
eation of formal business relationships with local companies, Goodwill furthered its commitment to the disadvantaged of Baltimore.
While Goodwill’s focus for many years was helping people with disabilities find gainful employment, that mission expanded over recent years. Goodwill has brought its years of experience to bear in a new initiative to train and place people with barriers to employment including dislocated workers, individuals with no work training, and those receiving public assistance, all the while maintaining its commitment to serve those with disabilities.
Our primary objective is to help individuals with barriers to employment become self-sufficient through training and employment services. We serve individuals with disabilities, those who receive public assistance such as welfare, and those who have been dislocated from their jobs.
