Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland, Inc.

Founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1918, as Goodwill Industries of Cleveland by Methodist minister Frank Milton Baker, it followed the concepts pioneered by Dr. Edgar J. Helms of Boston, Massachusetts. Its initial purpose was to furnish job training and employment for the aged, poor, and handicapped; and inexpensive clothing and furniture to the community through the processing of donated materials and management of Goodwill resale stores. In the 1930s, it began to focus on the vocational training and employment needs of people with physical, mental, and social disabilities. During the 1960s, rehabilitation counselors, psychologists, and social workers were added to its staff.

From the description of Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland, Inc., records, 1917-1998. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 41408521

Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland, Inc. (f. 1918) was founded as Goodwill Industries of Cleveland by Methodist minister Frank Milton Baker (1880-1950). The concept of Goodwill Industries originated with Dr. Edgar J. Helms (1863-1942) of Boston, Massachusetts, in the late 1890s. Dr. Helms established an industrial school in 1902 at the Methodist church where he served as a minister. His plan was to convert donated goods into work experience and employment opportunities. His idea grew, and he began to publicize the Goodwill Industries concept across the United States. In early 1914 he spoke at a Methodist Union banquet in Cleveland, Ohio. Subsequently, a committee from the Methodist Episcopal Deaconess Home visited Dr. Helms' operation in Boston. The women of this committee were so impressed by their visit that the Deaconess Board organized the Industrial and Relief Department of the Deaconess Home in May of 1915. This department distributed bags to Methodist churches in Cleveland for the collection of donated articles. Six workers processed the donated clothing in a barn behind the Deaconess Home on Bridge Avenue and West 30th Street. The processed goods were then sold at a store located at the Deaconess Home. The barn was severely damaged by fire in 1917, prompting the committee to reevaluate and expand the program. Reverend Baker was chosen as the general manager of the department. Baker distributed more donation bags, enlarged the processing facility, employed more needy people, and opened a second store on Broadway Avenue.

Nationally, the Bureau of Goodwill Industries was organized by the Home Mission Board of the Methodist Episcopal Church in November 1918. In December of that year, the Industrial and Relief Committee of Cleveland became part of the national Bureau of Goodwill Industries, the seventh city to join. The committee members became part of the Cleveland Board of Directors with Mrs. A. J. Scaife serving as the first board president. The organization moved to the former home of the Goodrich House Settlement on East 6th Street and St. Clair Avenue. The purpose of Cleveland Goodwill was to furnish job training and employment for the aged, poor, and handicapped, and inexpensive clothing and furniture to the community. In 1919 Acme Hall at East 9th Street and Central Avenue was purchased by Goodwill for use as its central headquarters. Goodwill started children's recreational programming in 1919 and became a financially participating member of the Welfare Federation of Cleveland in 1921. A branch store was opened in Akron, Ohio, in 1925, the Cleveland facility was expanded, and a third Cleveland store opened. A Woman's Auxiliary organized in 1930 with Mrs. Scaife as president, and later that year the National Bureau of Woman's Auxiliaries of Goodwill Industries was organized in Cleveland (the Woman's Auxiliary changed its name to the Women's Auxiliary in 1961; in 1974 the Women's Auxiliary and its Service Guilds became Goodwill Industries Volunteer Services).

In the early 1930s, national Goodwill Industries began to focus on the needs of people with physical, mental, moral, and social disabilities. Cleveland's leadership followed suit in 1932. The Boy Scouts of Greater Cleveland began their annual material donation drive "100,000 Good Turns for Goodwill" at this time. When the United States entered World War II, Goodwill had nine stores in Cleveland and had expanded its rehabilitation program for the handicapped to include a wide range of occupational therapy and job training services.

During World War II, Goodwill joined the war effort by increasing collections of salvage and other discarded materials. Frank Baker served on the state committee on "Salvage for Victory" and the Mayor's Scrap Committee for Greater Cleveland. After the war, special training schools were established by Goodwill to train handicapped soldiers returning from the war. In 1950 Frank Baker died after serving Goodwill Industries of Cleveland for thirty-three years.

In 1954 Goodwill was forced to move to East 70th Street due to the construction of the Innerbelt Freeway. The new location doubled Goodwill's capacity to serve the handicapped. The Contract Work Service was established by the Welfare Federation of Cleveland in order to negotiate contracts with industries for work to be performed in Goodwill's sheltered workshops for severely handicapped people. Low income producing stores were relocated, intensive sales training was instituted, and many collection and production procedures were improved at this time.

The concept of Goodwill collection depots located in shopping centers was adopted in Cleveland in 1959. During the 1960s, rehabilitation counselors, social workers, and an operations director were added to the payroll. Social and psychological services were included in Goodwill services, job training and employment opportunities were expanded, and industrial departments were reorganized for better efficiency. Such program and service expansions led Goodwill Industries to centralize its operation at a new facility on East 55th Street in 1972. Funds for the construction were received through the federal government, foundation grants, a capital campaign, and the sale of two stores. Boy Scout Good Turn Day now involved over 12,000 scouts in northeast Ohio. Televised fashion shows began during the 1970s to increase awareness of Goodwill Industries, and the collection box system replaced the manned trailer system. In 1978 cafeteria and woodworking training were added to its services to the handicapped.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland suffered from a lack of leadership and poor financial circumstances. The executive director was asked to resign, and several changes were introduced to update collection systems and industrial equipment and close stores. Store managers were offered incentives, store advertising was introduced, and new goods began to be sold at stores. But the financial situation worsened and budget deficits and sales declines continued into the mid-1980s. By 1985, the deficit stood at over $425,000. In 1986 the executive director was again asked to resign and a major theft ring comprised of Goodwill store workers was discovered and prosecuted. Sales operations were again updated and property was sold. Fundraising efforts and sales increased, and in 1989 Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland established a foundation to provide it with a strong financial base. More programs and services for the handicapped were added as the 1990s began, and the financial situation continued to improve.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland

From the guide to the Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland, Inc. Photographs, 1920-1995, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland, Inc. (f. 1918) was founded as Goodwill Industries of Cleveland by Methodist minister Frank Milton Baker (1880-1950). The concept of Goodwill Industries originated with Dr. Edgar J. Helms (1863-1942) of Boston, Massachusetts, in the late 1890s. Dr. Helms established an industrial school in 1902 at the Methodist church where he served as a minister. His plan was to convert donated goods into work experience and employment opportunities. His idea grew, and he began to publicize the Goodwill Industries concept across the United States. In early 1914 he spoke at a Methodist Union banquet in Cleveland, Ohio. Subsequently, a committee from the Methodist Episcopal Deaconess Home visited Dr. Helms' operation in Boston. The women of this committee were so impressed by their visit that the Deaconess Board organized the Industrial and Relief Department of the Deaconess Home in May of 1915. This department distributed bags to Methodist churches in Cleveland for the collection of donated articles. Six workers processed the donated clothing in a barn behind the Deaconess Home on Bridge Avenue and West 30th Street. The processed goods were then sold at a store located at the Deaconess Home. The barn was severely damaged by fire in 1917, prompting the committee to reevaluate and expand the program. Reverend Baker was chosen as the general manager of the department. Baker distributed more donation bags, enlarged the processing facility, employed more needy people, and opened a second store on Broadway Avenue.

Nationally, the Bureau of Goodwill Industries was organized by the Home Mission Board of the Methodist Episcopal Church in November 1918. In December of that year, the Industrial and Relief Committee of Cleveland became part of the national Bureau of Goodwill Industries, the seventh city to join. The committee members became part of the Cleveland Board of Directors with Mrs. A. J. Scaife serving as the first board president. The organization moved to the former home of the Goodrich House Settlement on East 6th Street and St. Clair Avenue. The purpose of Cleveland Goodwill was to furnish job training and employment for the aged, poor, and handicapped, and inexpensive clothing and furniture to the community. In 1919 Acme Hall at East 9th Street and Central Avenue was purchased by Goodwill for use as its central headquarters. Goodwill started children's recreational programming in 1919 and became a financially participating member of the Welfare Federation of Cleveland in 1921. A branch store was opened in Akron, Ohio, in 1925, the Cleveland facility was expanded, and a third Cleveland store opened. A Woman's Auxiliary organized in 1930 with Mrs. Scaife as president, and later that year the National Bureau of Woman's Auxiliaries of Goodwill Industries was organized in Cleveland (the Woman's Auxiliary changed its name to the Women's Auxiliary in 1961; in 1974 the Women's Auxiliary and its Service Guilds became Goodwill Industries Volunteer Services).

In the early 1930s, national Goodwill Industries began to focus on the needs of people with physical, mental, moral, and social disabilities. Cleveland's leadership followed suit in 1932. The Boy Scouts of Greater Cleveland began their annual material donation drive "100,000 Good Turns for Goodwill" at this time. When the United States entered World War II, Goodwill had nine stores in Cleveland and had expanded its rehabilitation program for the handicapped to include a wide range of occupational therapy and job training services.

During World War II, Goodwill joined the war effort by increasing collections of salvage and other discarded materials. Frank Baker served on the state committee on "Salvage for Victory" and the Mayor's Scrap Committee for Greater Cleveland. After the war, special training schools were established by Goodwill to train handicapped soldiers returning from the war. In 1950 Frank Baker died after serving Goodwill Industries of Cleveland for thirty-three years.

In 1954 Goodwill was forced to move to East 70th Street due to the construction of the Innerbelt Freeway. The new location doubled Goodwill's capacity to serve the handicapped. The Contract Work Service was established by the Welfare Federation of Cleveland in order to negotiate contracts with industries for work to be performed in Goodwill's sheltered workshops for severely handicapped people. Low income producing stores were relocated, intensive sales training was instituted, and many collection and production procedures were improved at this time.

The concept of Goodwill collection depots located in shopping centers was adopted in Cleveland in 1959. During the 1960s, rehabilitation counselors, social workers, and an operations director were added to the payroll. Social and psychological services were included in Goodwill services, job training and employment opportunities were expanded, and industrial departments were reorganized for better efficiency. Such program and service expansions led Goodwill Industries to centralize its operation at a new facility on East 55th Street in 1972. Funds for the construction were received through the federal government, foundation grants, a capital campaign, and the sale of two stores. Boy Scout Good Turn Day now involved over 12,000 scouts in northeast Ohio. Televised fashion shows began during the 1970s to increase awareness of Goodwill Industries, and the collection box system replaced the manned trailer system. In 1978 cafeteria and woodworking training were added to its services to the handicapped.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland suffered from a lack of leadership and poor financial circumstances. The executive director was asked to resign, and several changes were introduced to update collection systems and industrial equipment and close stores. Store managers were offered incentives, store advertising was introduced, and new goods began to be sold at stores. But the financial situation worsened and budget deficits and sales declines continued into the mid-1980s. By 1985, the deficit stood at over $425,000. In 1986 the executive director was again asked to resign and a major theft ring comprised of Goodwill store workers was discovered and prosecuted. Sales operations were again updated and property was sold. Fundraising efforts and sales increased, and in 1989 Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland established a foundation to provide it with a strong financial base. More programs and services for the handicapped were added as the 1990s began, and the financial situation continued to improve.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland

From the guide to the Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland, Inc. Records, 1917-1998, (Western Reserve Historical Society)