Our History
1902
By collecting used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of Boston, Reverend Edgar Helms trained and hired impoverished community members to mend and repair the used goods. The goods were then resold or were given to the people who repaired them.
The system worked, and the Goodwill philosophy of “a hand up, not a hand out” was born.
In 1927, the mission made its way to Birmingham.
1927
25 years after Goodwill’s creation, Alabama Goodwill Industries was born. At the time, our operation was a wood chopping workshop. Each employee was paid $1 and a loaf of bread at the end of the day.
1949
In its 27th year serving the Birmingham community, Alabama Goodwill employed 82 Alabamians with disabilities from diverse backgrounds. Our mission expanded to include the sorting, processing and transport of donated goods being sold. In the 1940’s , employees also began repairing electrical appliances.
1956
Now operating 8 retail locations across central Alabama, AGI’s team members began building and repairing furniture in addition to the donated clothes, shoes, toys and more.
1966
Alabama Goodwill breaks ground on a new main office and workshop building in Ensley. In the 1960’s, Alabama Goodwill also operated a horticulture center and greenhouse for individuals with disabilities to take part in.
1970
Alabama Goodwill receives its largest gift through a generous bequest. Today, this $200,000 donation would be the equivalent of around $1.3 Million. These funds helped us expand our mission into Huntsville, as well as remodel and replace existing work areas.
1977
By 1977, Alabama Goodwill Industries celebrates its 50th anniversary. Our mission has expanded into Huntsville and Gadsden by the mid-1970’s as well.
1982
We opened our Skills Center in Birmingham in 1982, and began helping even more Alabamians with barriers to employment. Our “Skills Center” has since become a “Career Center” where we help all Alabamians find better paying jobs and stability.
1985
Alabama Goodwill opens its largest facility on Green Springs Highway in Birmingham, following a $3 Million capital campaign. The site is still home to our main offices, Career Center, and warehouse.
1988-1992
In 1988, our organization began offering opportunity and services to more Alabamians in need. We began to strategize and broaden our missions to become more than a sheltered workshop.
By 1990, Alabama Goodwill became accredited by CARF.
In 1992, Alabama Goodwill began contracting with federal offices through SourceAmerica (formerly NISH) to provide even more opportunity to Alabamians in need. We still partner with SourceAmerica almost 20 years later.
1995
In 1995, four of our Attended Donation Centers closed due to low productivity.
In that same year, our first drive-thru donation center became a reality and was an overwhelming success here at our Green Springs location. Today, we have 10 Attended Donation Centers, and a majority of them operate as drive-thrus.
2009
In 2009, Alabama Goodwill saw its highest number of customers on record. 292,531 customers supported the Goodwill mission at 9 retail locations across central and north Alabama. Today, nearly 500,000 customers support our mission each year!
2018
Current President and CEO, David Wells joins Alabama Goodwill from Goodwill Manasota. Under his tenure, Alabama Goodwill’s mission has reached more Alabamians than ever before, and is continuing to grow to reach even more! We expanded our mission services to include virtual reality trainings, tax prep and more.
2020
Alabama Goodwill opens its first Outlet store! The store is located in the back of our Green Springs building in Birmingham. Here, shoppers can purchase goods at deeply discounted rates, and goods are purchased by the pound.
The incredible support from the communities we serve ensured no Goodwill Team Members were laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
After a trying year for everyone, Alabama Goodwill is grateful to have opened a new Attended Donation Center in Madison, a store and donation center in Huntsville, and re-opened an Athens location. We are anticipating additional openings before the year’s end and we look forward to expanding our missions to serve more Alabamians!
2022
Alabama Goodwill is pleased to have established the opening of new Attended Donation Centers in Albertville, Decatur, and Madison, as well as a store and donation center in Center Point and Tuscaloosa. Additional vacancies are scheduled in early 2023, and we look forward to expanding our missions to assist more Alabama citizens!
Want to be a part of our ongoing history?
We need ongoing financial support to sustain our growth and continue meeting the needs of Alabamians facing barriers to employment.
Please consider a financial gift TODAY!