FINDING PURPOSE WITH GOODWILL’S CAREER SERVICES OPENING DOORS
Health equipment loan program removes barriers for arkansans
goodwill’s last mile to work program donates bicycles to providence park residents
For people caring for a loved one, access to essential medical equip- ment can make all the difference. Through Goodwill Arkansas’s Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP), Arkansans can borrow gently used medical equipment at no cost and keep it for as long as they need it. Made possible through donations, HELP provides wheelchairs, walk- ers, crutches, canes, shower chairs, commodes, lift equipment, ther- apy aids and many other essentials. Equipment is available on a first- come, first-served basis through Goodwill retail locations across the state, with teams working to locate and transfer items when they’re not available locally. This fiscal year, Goodwill Arkansas provided 2,720 pieces of health equipment to individuals and families throughout the state, helping re- move barriers and improve quality of life for thousands of Arkansans. books 4 kids empowers youth Goodwill Arkansas’s Books 4 Kids Program is a vital initiative aimed at bridging the literacy gap for children in low-income families. Under- standing that access to books at an early age is critical to a child’s cog- nitive development and academic success, the program works directly with Title I schools and other programs throughout the state to ensure that children who need it most are given the tools to succeed. over 20,000 books provided to arkansas youth in fy26
Goodwill Arkansas recently donated refur- bished bicycles to the first residents of Little Rock’s Providence Park. Through Goodwill’s Last Mile to Work program,
LAST MILE TO WORK PROVIDENCE PARK VIDEO
every tiny home built and furnished for individuals expe- riencing homelessness will now include a donated and re- paired bicycle, helping provide reliable transportation for daily needs. Access to transportation can be life-changing. From getting to work to running errands, these bicycles can be game changers for sustained employment. Goodwill has seen firsthand how dependable transportation can help individuals maintain employment and build stability, and we’re proud to extend that same support to our neighbors at Providence Park.
every donation opens a door: meet career navigator, josh coker
Sometimes all it takes to change a life is walking through the right door. For Josh, that door was Goodwill Arkansas. After years of liv- ing with a debilitating back injury, facing discrimination because of a past felony conviction and searching for a place where he could simply be seen for who he was, he found more than a job. He found purpose. Josh entered Goodwill through our Transitional Employment Op-
JOSH COKER VIDEO
portunity (TEO) program unsure of what the future held. What he discovered was a team that believed in his potential from day one. With encouragement and training, he advanced from the TEO program to a position in one of our retail stores. He later became a key holder and now serves as a career navigator, helping others overcome the same barriers he once faced. His lived experience allows him to connect with people in a way few can. Whether someone is facing poverty, incarcer- ation, disability or other challenges, Josh meets them with empathy instead of judgment and reminds them that a brighter future is possible. Stories like Josh’s are only possible because of generous donations that support our mission.
CAREERSERVICES @goodwillar.org
(501) 372-5100 EXT. 1216
learn more at goodwillar.org/CAREER-SERVICES
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mission magazine / volume 5 / summer 2026
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