News & Events

Girl Scouts and Goodwill Make the
Holidays Brighter for Sonoma County Families

For the past 15 years, Girl Scouts from throughout Sonoma County have joined in a community service project aimed at bringing holiday joy to children throughout the county. Gender- and age-specific gift bags, usually hand-sewn and/or decorated by the girls, are given to children of families enrolled in a variety of employment programs throughout the county. The bags are filled with gifts purchased personally or with funds they have raised as a group.

In 2012, Girl Scouts ages 5-17 created over 500 Holiday Gift Bags that went to children of families enrolled in a variety of employment programs, including Goodwill Industries. Goodwill was added to the list of agencies receiving gift bags 9 years ago when a young woman named Elizabeth Onate was a student in our job search program. Her mother, Deborah Holden runs the Holiday Bag project and, when Elizabeth suggested sharing with Goodwill, it worked out very well. Elizabeth said, “I like to do this every year because it is something that I would want someone to do for me if I was having a hard time getting gifts for my children.”

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

VITA

Goodwill Industries is excited to announce our 7th year as a provider of free income tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service. Last year VITA assisted 21,000 individuals and families secure more than $33 million in tax refunds.

You may qualify for tax credits even if you are not required to file a tax return. These tax credits are especially beneficial to individuals and families with children.

For more information about the VITA program visit Free Tax Return Preparation for You by Volunteers at the IRS website or call 2-1-1. To find other locations in Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties providing VITA services, or to schedule an appointment or call 2-1-1. Sites are being added and updated frequently, so check back often.

Goodwill’s 2013 VITA Season will begin February 5, 2013. Appointments can be made after January 1 by calling (707) 523-0550. Qualifying taxpayers must have a household income of less than $50,000.

NEW FOR 2013!
If your household income was less than $57,000 in 2012, you can prepare your own taxes online for FREE using our URL: http://myfreetaxes.com/GIRE.

Goodwill's Computer Lab at 651 Yolanda Avenue, Santa Rosa, is available Saturdays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and an onsite volunteer is available to assist you with technical issues. Please allow at least 45 minutes to complete your return. We close promptly at 2:00 p.m.

Live assistance is available if you have technical or tax law questions as you go. Just call 1-855-MY-TX-HELP (1-855-698-9435) between 7am and 5pm PST and a representative will assist you.

If your household income was less than $50,000 in 2012 and you’d prefer to have a trained volunteer tax preparer complete your tax return, just call (707) 523-0550 to schedule an appointment at Goodwill or 2-1-1 to make an appointment at another one of our 22 tax sites located throughout Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino Counties.

Click Here for more information.

eWaste Drives
hosted by Goodwill and Sonoma County Waste Management Agency


2013
   January 12th - Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa

   January 26th - Oakmont Community Center in Santa Rosa

   February 23rd & 24th - Cloverdale Park & Ride

   March 23rd & 24th - Graton Fire Department

   April 27th & 28th - Goodwill Store, 513 Healdsburg Ave

   May 18th & 19th - Coddingtown Whole Foods in Santa Rosa


Upcoming Donation Drive Fundraisers

   Donation Drive Fundraisers ~

May 21:   7:30 - 4:00 / Bennet Valley Union School District
                2250 Mesquite Dr., Santa Rosa
June 1:    9:00 - 3:00 / Deep Valley Christian School
                8555 Uva Dr, Redwood Valley
July 13:  10:00 - 4:00 / Windsor High School Football
                Windsor High School, 8695 Windsor rd., Windsor

Goodwill Interactive Tour

   Helping People and Changing Lives - Join us for a FREE 1-Hour
      Tour with Lunch. Learn about Goodwill Industries ~
      Redwood Empire in Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino
      Counties. (This is not a fundraiser – no one will be asked
      for money.) Bring a Friend! Call 523-0550 to reserve your
      place.
     

"Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others,
you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness
that you are able to give."