Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers’ (GWISR) social mission is to build a stronger workforce through a variety of job training and placement programs. When individuals with barriers to employment secure competitive positions as a result of Goodwill’s programs, local economies prosper, easing poverty and unemployment. To accomplish its social mission of building a stronger workforce, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers operates as a social enterprise, meaning it’s a revenue generating organization that reinvests its money back into the community. Reinvestment begins when you donate gently used household items to Goodwill. The revenue generated from their sale in Goodwill stores helps fund Goodwill’s various job training and placement programs.
GWISR’s affi liates, PowerWorks, Inc. and Ben & Jerry’s of the Southern Rivers Inc., are two additional social enterprises that generate revenue for Goodwill’s mission based programs. PowerWorks Inc. provides contracted custodial cleaning services throughout South West Georgia with a workforce that is predominately disabled. Ben & Jerry’s of the Southern Rivers, Inc., which is the first Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream PartnerShop in the South East United States, is a social enterprise that provides mission based services to at-risk youth.
Revenue generated from
selling donated items helps
fund Goodwill’s job training
and placement programs, easing
poverty and unemployment.
Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers (GWISR) does not rely on state or federal funds to sustain its mission. Programs and services are funded through GWISR’s various social enterprises, community partnerships and most importantly through your donations.
Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers provides job training and placement services to anyone seeking employment. The following are examples of those that Goodwill serves everyday:
  • Seniors re-entering the workforce
  • Working professionals seeking more
    advanced career opportunities
  • Persons new to the country or community
  • First-time job seekers
  • Persons with disabilities
  • Employers looking to Goodwill to solve their workforce needs

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers, Inc
Corporate Offices
2600 Cross Country Drive
Building A
Columbus, GA 31906
(706) 324-4366 office
1-866-325-8265 toll free
(706) 660-0429 fax

Media Relations
(706) 324-4366

Donor Relations
Amanda Lister
(706) 256-1816
alister@gwisr.org

Compliance & Whistleblower Officer
Judy Porter ext
(706) 256-1827
jporter@gwisr.org

People Services
(706) 324-4366

Career Opportunities
(706) 324-4366
Careers@GWISR.org

Changes to Website
To request a change to the website content, please download, fill out, and e-mail the Change Request Form to tmercer@gwisr.org.

   Background:

In 1902, Methodist Minister Rev. Edgar J. Helms founded Goodwill in Boston’s South End after noticing a number of immigrants wandering the streets without a job. It wasn’t until October 22, 1959 that a group of Columbus, GA citizens began developing plans for a Goodwill, within the city, that would serve the entire Chattahoochee Valley.

After months of fundraising on October 4, 1963, Goodwill Industries of the Chattahoochee Valley (GICV) opened its fi rst retail store on Hamilton Road in Columbus.

In 2001, GICV acquired Goodwill Industries of South Georgia, expanding its territory from 22 to 50 counties in Georgia and East Alabama. As a result in 2004, the organization changed its name to Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers (GWISR).

Although an affi liate of Goodwill Industries International, GWISR is autonomous from other member organizations. Its voluntary board of directors oversees all policies, procedures and financial decisions.
Whistleblower Hotline 1-866-325-8265 Opt. 5 Feel free to contact us at 1-866-325-8265 / 706-324-4366 Copyright Policy