Goodwill Workforce Development partners with enJOY Gifts & Gathering to provide meaningful employment

MARINETTE – The Menominee Goodwill Workforce Development Program shared in an exciting announcement that they have partnered with enJOY Gifts & Gathering, LLC to place program participants in the workforce.

Goodwill Workforce Development Programs collaborates with students and adults to provide structure through day services and community integrated employment.

“Goodwill’s Houghton Programming provides skill-building, community support, supported employment, pre-employment training and transit services to individuals with developmental disabilities, mental illness or other disabling conditions that are barriers to employment, socialization and participation in community life,” the Goodwill Industries of Northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan (NWUP) shared.

At enJOY Gifts & Gathering, business owner Pam Weirich has worked alongside this program to create employment agreements where participants come in for an hour each week and complete different cleaning and organization tasks.

While the additional staff support is beneficial to Weirich, the impact of this program goes far beyond the walls of her building.

“These partnerships are about so much more than completing a job, they give our students the opportunity to discover what they’re capable of and build skills they can carry into their futures,” Goodwill NWUP wrote.

One example of this is Dale and Kris — two of the program participants that have been working at enJOY after losing placement at their previous jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They went from having socialization with their coworkers to having nothing,” she explained.
“They’re as happy as can be and love being employed here… it gives them purpose.”

Program participants have also found meaningful employment at a variety of other sites, including North Shore Church and Spies Public Library.

For Weirich, working with special ability people has been important to her across her career from working with a man with Down Syndrome when she was 17 and her time employed at a group home facility.

She encouraged other business owners to look into programs like the Menominee Goodwill Workforce Development Program.

“You’ll be blessed in ways you won’t expect. It may take a little extra time from you to do it, but it’s worth it when you see their joy and their excitement.”

“We all want purpose and we all want to be seen,” Weirich added.

For more information about the Menominee Goodwill Workforce Development Program, follow their page on Facebook or visit https://gwnwup.org/contact-us/ to submit a question.

To learn more about the inspirational gifts and unique coffee drinks at enJOY Gifts & Gathering, stop by the shop at 1713 Main St, Marinette.