Huntley has welcomed a new Goodwill center gracing the intersection of Kreutzer Road and Route 47, which opened on Wednesday, Oct. 12.
Every year, Goodwill Industries International evaluates areas in need throughout the country, and it was determined that Huntley would be a prime location to open a new center. After getting approval from the Village Board, construction on the store advanced quickly, and a groundbreaking ceremony with the Huntley Chamber took place on May 3.
According to Shannon Halverson, Goodwill Northern Illinois’ public relations and marketing manager, the new location will feature programs aimed to help residents of the area to not only purchase necessities at discounted prices, but improve their lives as well.
The Attire to Hire program, which will be one of the programs featured, will help provide job seekers with appropriate office wear for interviews and professional events. The Good Dollars and Sense program helps to educate people about financial literacy and how to manage money wisely, with information on savings plans, identity theft, and home ownership.
“Free and lasting only six weeks, the program is an easy way to get people started on improving their lives and finances,” said Halverson.
Goodwill has taken on a greener atmosphere inside and outside their new stores with the company’s goal in mind: reuse, recycle, and resell.
According to Halverson, the store is built over a sub base of recycled asphalt grindings, while Energy Star-rated appliances and renewable energy certificates (RECs) have been added to offset energy use.
“The grindings are a by-product of old roadway removal that would otherwise end up in landfills,” said Halverson. “So this is an exciting new idea that is green as well as practical.”
The recent construction along Route 47 was a bit of a challenge when building the new center, but the store is set to open around its original estimated time.
“Things have been going really smoothly, and I’ve been to the center myself,” said Halverson, “We’ve been making good progress on setting up for the opening, and the new store is very sharp.”
To help run the center, the new location will staff 42-45 jobs at all times, and volunteers will be needed.
“The center is still looking for more applicants, so students who are interested should definitely look at our website for more information,” said Halverson.
More information about the new store and Goodwill Industries International can be found at www.goodwill.org.
Post Author: Holly Baldacci. Holly Baldacci is a sophomore at Huntley High School in Huntley, IL. She is a member of the HHS girls golf team, as well as art club and academic team, and enjoys reading, sketching, and hanging out with her friends and family. This is her first year on the newspaper staff for The Voice, and she is looking forward to many more years in Publications Production. She moved to Algonquin from Houston, Texas in 2000, and has been a student in District 158 since kindergarten. You can contact her at [email protected].