Goodwill steps into the limelight this month as participants from its Northern New Jersey programs model outfits from its stores on Spotlight New Jersey. The fashion show will be shown April 18-19 over Cablevision Channel 12 and Comcast Channel 62.
Staff from all departments of Goodwill’s New Jersey Division worked for weeks to ensure that the fashion show would be a success. Program supervisors and counselors invited Goodwill clients to participate; then compiled a list of the age, gender and sizes of all models. Retail district manager Rosa Munoz asked store managers to select 20 outfits for the show. Most came from Goodwill’s Harrison, East Brunswick and Springfield stores.
The event showed off the diverse clothing and wide range of sizes that are available at Goodwill stores. Managers had to find clothes for Dorothy Wilson, a sales associate at the Springfield Goodwill store, who is very tall. Also at the last minute, the Goodwill “fashion stylists” had to find a pair of size 13 men’s shoes. “All the participants and the staff who helped put the outfits together enjoyed preparing for the show,” comments Harrison store manager Elba Sande.
Stylists from Atelier Country Salon and Spa agreed to do the models’ hair and make-up.
At the fashion show, News 12 New Jersey anchorwoman Della Crews and New Jersey Goodwill vice president Kirsten Giardi presented the models and introduced Goodwill’s programs. Taped April 14, it will be shown during Spotlight New Jersey’s regular schedule on News 12 New Jersey:
· Saturday, April 18 - 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
· Sunday, April 19 - 6 a.m., 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Models included three children and their mentors from the Goodwill’s GoodFriends mentoring program, four re-entry services participants and five clients from the agency’s rehabilitation programs.
Goodwill’s GoodFriends mentoring program serves Newark children with a parent involved with the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Children from 8 to 15 years old are matched with a mentor of the same gender with similar interests. Mentors are asked to commit to at least four hours a month for a year or more to establish a healthy supportive relationship. They offer guidance, friendship and serve as role models. GoodFriends is a group program where interactions are conducted through an organized activity facilitated by Goodwill staff. For more information, call (973) 481-2300, X274.
Goodwill’s re-entry services provide support to non-violent ex-offenders returning to their neighborhoods. The program offers mentoring, employment support, financial literacy and housing support services. “For the past three years, Goodwill has helped individuals coming out of the judicial system to overcome the barriers that prevent them from successfully reestablishing in their communities,” Ms. Giardi explains. To learn more about this program, call (973) 242-0054.
Goodwill’s rehabilitation programs provide training, placement, job coaching and post-employment services for persons with disabilities. The nonprofit also offers First Step to help Hudson and Union County residents with medical or mental health barriers move from public assistance to work and GoodTemps to place persons with disabilities and disadvantages in temporary staffing positions. For information, call (973) 481-2300.
Goodwill Stores - Northern New Jersey
· Bergenfield, 507A South Washington Avenue (near Armory), 07621; (201) 385-5154
· East Brunswick, 415 Highway 18 (West Ferris Street), 08816; (732) 651-1091
· Fairfield, 423 Route 46 West (Hollywood Avenue/Route 625), 07004; (973) 227-1842
· Harrison, 400 Supor Boulevard (Harrison Avenue), 07029; (973) 481-4355
· Jersey City, 2815 John F. Kennedy Boulevard (Journal Square), 07306; (201) 946-6735
· Springfield, 126 Route 22 West (Stern Avenue), 07081; (973) 912-0156
Atelier Country Salon and Spa
1 Brownlee Place, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920; (908) 766-4630
www.ateliersalonandspa.com