What We Do

When people think of Goodwill, they think of the thrift store where you can buy affordable clothing or donate those unwanted items. Goodwill is so much more. Since 1927, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas has helped thousands of individuals with disabilities and other barriers onto a path toward reclaiming their independence through the power of work.

How do we do it? By operating stores that provide jobs and training within the retail environment and by channeling a majority of our revenues into job creation and employment training and placement programs. We invite you to learn more about Goodwill Industries of Arkansas and find out how we can all help change lives, one person at a time.

Our Story

Providing a Chance, Not Charity

We believe in work. Why? Because we have witnessed its power to transform lives. Work helps build self-confidence, independence and empowerment. We at Goodwill believe that everyone deserves a chance to have these things in life and that sometimes people need a “hand up, not a hand out.” Goodwill provides that chance.

Goodwill provides a broad range of training and employment opportunities to assist adults in overcoming barriers to employment so they may achieve a level of independence to participate more fully in life.

Our skills training, education, job preparation and placement programs build lives, families and communities—one job at a time. Placing individuals in productive and competitive employment fills them with the value, joy and dignity of a paycheck. Putting people to work not only benefits the individual, but also the communities’ economic vitality as well, through taxes, spending power, real estate values, quality of life, and relief to social services and welfare systems.

Who We Serve

Our clients come from all walks of life. Many have physical, mental or emotional disabilities. Others have encountered disadvantages in their lives such as long-term unemployment, lack of work experience or education, or have a history of incarceration that make finding a job seem impossible. Giving people with barriers the chance to realize their highest levels of personal and economic independence is essential to our mission.

Whether someone needs help to find a job, would like to add to their work skills by taking our instructor-led or online classes, or are in need of job training due to a disability or other disadvantaging condition, Goodwill is there to help – and because of generous donations from the public, we can offer our services free to the public.

Where You Can Find Us

Our main facility is located at 1110 W. 7th Street in Little Rock, and houses our administrative offices, training programs, processing operations, transportation fleet, computer recycling program, as well as a donation center. Additionally, we have numerous Career Centers located inside our retail locations throughout the state that offer many services ranging from job search assistance to education services and much more.

See How We're Doing

We help thousands of Arkansans, keep millions of pounds of household goods out of area landfills, and recycle thousands of pounds of hazardous waste materials each year. Click here to see how your support is making an impact in your community right now.

How You Can Help

As you can see, Goodwill is more than just thrift stores. Thousands of Arkansans benefit from Goodwill’s free programs and services each year. Goodwill needs your support to continue helping the thousands of Arkansans that come through our doors each year. Most of Goodwill’s funding comes from the sale of donated items in our retail stores, where you can purchase gently used clothing, housewares, furniture, books and more at significant savings over retail.

Every time you donate a bag of gently used goods, shop in one of our retail stores, make a financial contribution, or simply talk to others about Goodwill’s valuable work in the community, you are changing a life. Become a part of our circle of hope...Donate, Shop, Change a Life! Thank you!

...what people need is "a chance not a charity."

Edgar J. Helms
Founder of Goodwill Industries

Our Mission