The First Goodwill
The Goodwill philosophy originated with Edgar J. Helms, a
Methodist minister. In 1902, he had just completed his training at a seminary
and had arrived in his new parish on the south side of Boston, a section of
town populated by European immigrants. These people were jobless, unfamiliar
with the English language, and running out of money and hope in their new
world. Helms went door-to-door in the upscale section of Boston and collected
goods in burlap sacks to help the poor immigrants. However, the immigrants were
too proud to accept the charity. The minister decided to put them to work
repairing and cleaning the items, then sold the items to pay the workers’
training and wages. This simple idea – a hand up, not a hand out – gave rise to
the Goodwill we know today.
Goodwill Comes to Oklahoma
The vision of Oklahoma Goodwill Industries began to
materialize when E. K. Gaylord, a local publisher, heard of the operating
philosophy of Goodwill Industries and asked Edith Johnson, his secretary and
herself a noted journalist, to visit St. Louis and Ohio Goodwill
operations. After these visits, she recommended to leading Oklahoma City
citizens that they incorporate. After the formal incorporation on
September 21, 1936, Lofty Mann, a wholesale paper distributor, was elected
president; E. G. Green, vice president; and Edith Johnson, secretary-treasurer.
Robert McKee, executive at Detroit Goodwill Industries, was named executive
director.
The newly incorporated Oklahoma Goodwill began its first
operations in a two-story building at 11th and Robinson Street, then later at
Reno and Robinson Street. In 1950, the operation moved to the former Labor
Temple at 516 West California Street. Five years later, the board of directors
purchased the former bus terminal at 410 SW Third Street. A grant from the Federal Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare funded the equipment. This was probably the first such
grant to Goodwill Industries, and it was unique in that it came directly from
the Federal office. Around 1960, Oklahoma Goodwill purchased additional
lots adjoining the Third Street property to meet future expansion needs, and
the California Street property was converted entirely to sales.
Oklahoma Goodwill store territory now covers Stillwater,
Shawnee, Yukon, Midwest City, Norman, Edmond, Moore, and Oklahoma City. In 2005, Oklahoma Goodwill served
1,318 people through its various programs, and continues to demonstrate the
power of work. Promoted as "Not a charity, but a chance," OGI is
currently Oklahoma's largest non-profit provider of employment and training
services for people with disabilities and other disadvantages.