Evening star., 1940-04-05

puollc OF private charity, busy re-
conditioning clothing, furniture and
innumerable types of household
goods. The celebration of five years
labors, however, has been viewed by
those in charge as an occasion on
which public attention might be TO-
cused upon the project, bringing
about, perhaps, more widespread
inclination to .'.fill the Goodwill bag
and calEthe Goodwill truck" and in
creased sales 3 in the Industries
stores.
260 Given Employment.
During 1889 $50 persons were en-
QIQ2eNan Average of LILO. being
I41ken ofk e4fi1 day. Those en-
pioyed averaged S07 hours of labor
during The. year, and the aggregate
was approximately 10000 hours.
resulting in payment of wages total-
ling $4,000. Sales 81 articles donated
to the Industries, reconditioned and
placed on display in the various
Goodwill stores amounted to 15e. 900
items.
A picture of the ORGANIZATIONS
growth can be obtained by compar-
Ing these figures to those for q six
month period in 1885. The approxi-
mate aggregate employment in that
time was 1890 hours, which would
have been 28,640 for a year at the
same rate, with an average of 20
persons a day receiving work aver
aging total of AZ hours for the
six months, or "a hours on the basis
OF year.
An operating loss of IS, zoe. ~ was
sustained by the Industries last wear,
but Col. E. Goring Bliss, the presi-
cent. hopes to effect adjustments
during the current year which will
enable Goodwill to break even" or
realize profit.
The local organization, which is
affiliated with similar establish
ments in other cities, was founded
IN 1885 by the late S. L. Thomas.
who came to the Capital from Roam
oke, Va, where he had been super
1ntendent of the Goodwill Indus
tries and Gospel Mission. While
secretary of the A. B. Pugh Bible
Glass in Mount Vernon Place Meth
odist Church, Mr.. Thomas sought
to develop enthusiasm for bringing
the Goodwill Industries idea here.
When he received an offer to pay
Tor printing literature he said was
MS only immediate need, Goodwill
Industries of Washington was es-
tablished, with Mr.. Thomas colored
chauffeur as the first employee.
Salesman Added.
A salesman and secretary soon
were employed on a part-time basis.
and on June 3, 1885, the infant
project was incorporated by Col.
William o. Tufts, Col. A. r. Brind-
ley, Mrs. Karl Fenning, James C.
Dulin, jr.; Mrs. Elizabeth w. Muir
ray and DR.. William L. Darby. In
the same month a move was made
to more extensive quarters at 924
Fifth street NV, where store, re-
pair shop and Office were set up on
the first floor and storage room on
the second. Only shoes and gar
ments were reconditioned in these
early days.
Work was given at first to
transients who wanted to obtain
clothing, but the transition to a
policy Of aiding only handicapped
persons was made as the Industries
grew.
Mr.. Thomas car, which had been
used in making collections, gave way
to a second hand truck, for purchase
of which q benefactor provided
funds, and moving day came again,
the workshop being installed at 928
Fifth street NV. and the store at
926 Fifth street NV.
The first director left in December,
1885, to assume supervision OF the
Ashtabula (Ohio) Goodwill Indus
tries, but since has died. On June l,
1896, w. Harold Shape, present
director, and former executive sec
retary of the Springfield (Mass.)
Industries and regional secretary of
the New England district, National
Association of Goodwill Industries,
assumed his duties here.
About a month later the organ
ization moved headquarters to 1914
20 New Hampshire avenue NV,
where it has remained since.
In addition to the general store |
at headquarters, an antique and |
book shop is conducted. Other loca-
tions Of Goodwill sales activity are |
2011 Georgia avenue NV, 1866 H |
street NE, Rockville, Nd, and Alex
andria, VI.
The organization now has Is