Easterseals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain

As students head back to the classroom, we’re excited to highlight the powerful partnerships that make a real difference in our communities. By collaborating with local high school transition programs like Granite Transition Services (GTS), we’re creating opportunities for students ages 17-21 to gain job training that empowers them to lead more independent lives. Throughout the school year, students under the guidance of a certified teacher and a para educator, partner with our Goodwill retail stores to gain real world employment skills. They foster a level of independence that is tailored to their personal needs, which allows them to see a different future for themselves.   Thank you to the Millcreek Goodwill store manager, Veronica Allred, and her team, for providing the guidance and support needed for these students to thrive. Together we create opportunities that change lives. 

Cara Piccono has been involved with Easterseals-Goodwill since 2008, serving multiple volunteer roles on the board of directors. As a retired insurance executive, Cara has worked with numerous business owners in her 30-year career. She brings an extensive knowledge of overall business operations and management to the board, along with a wealth of experience in areas of risk management and other insurance-related issues. We’re fortunate to have such a talented and committed volunteer serving our organization. Thank you, Cara!

It was a pleasure hosting Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce leadership class at our Adult and Community Services center. We appreciate the time and interest in learning more about our programs and were honored to have had the opportunity for our clients to engage with these community leaders. The leadership class also had a chance to meet with a number of leaders from Easterseals-Goodwill including Marian Permann, Adult Day manager, Shandon Christopherson, community support manager, Mitch Tropila, public policy officer, Roxanne Klose, VP of programs, and Mark Sherman, president/CEO. Looking forward to continued community impact from leaders in all of the represented organizations!

🎉 Happy National Thrift Shop Day! 🛍️ August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day and the perfect reminder of the impact we have when choose to shop sustainably at Goodwill. Not only is thrifting fun and affordable, but shopping at your local Goodwill store also extends the life of items and prevents them from ending up in landfills. When you bring donations to Goodwill or shop in our stores, you’re driving the circular economy by promoting reuse. Our entire model is based on keeping products in circulation, and we’ve been doing so for more than 120 years.  Shopping and donating at Goodwill also provides job training and work opportunities, while supporting programs that include employment, clinical, disability, and behavioral health.   Please join us in celebrating the joy of thrifting, the thrill of the hunt, and the impact your purchase has on our community! You can find a Goodwill location near you by visiting https://lnkd.in/gwiq5nqz. #thriftshop #goodwillfinds #goodwill #sustainable #secondhand

Last week Easterseals-Goodwill had the privilege of hosting an art reception at our center in Great Falls, Montana. This was an opportunity to showcase the artistic talents of our Adult Day and Community Services program participants. Thank you to these talented artists for sharing their individual pieces of work with the community! You can learn more about our programs and services by visiting our website at www.esgw.org. 

A huge shoutout to our amazing program manager, Sharon Kierulf for submitting the hardworking Easterseals-Goodwill Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) team in Nampa for a special treat! Thanks to her thoughtful gesture and the incredible work done by our staff, they enjoyed a delicious lunch courtesy of 107.1 Hank FM Radio this week.   “We’re a dedicated group working tirelessly to support our community and help older adults in this job training program. Our team is passionate about making a difference, but sometimes that means we get so caught up in helping others that we forget to take a break for lunch!” Sharon says. “A free lunch for our local team was a wonderful way to celebrate our dedication and give us a much-needed chance to relax and recharge together.” Thank you to 107.1 Hank FM Radio for recognizing the efforts of Sharon and her team! You can learn more about our SCSEP program by visiting https://lnkd.in/d45W_uTr.

Makia Edwards joined the Medallion Home Health clinical team at Easterseals-Goodwill this year as a part-time occupational therapist. She also works for the Great Falls school district. In 2018, Makia obtained her BA in sociology from Eastern Washington University and her doctor of occupational therapy from Rocky Mountain College. She says, "I love being an OT because I have the opportunity to help our clients regain their function and return to doing the things they enjoy.” Originally from Washington state, Makia enjoys reading, camping, traveling to National Parks, and tending to all her house plants. She is the happy owner of a dog and a cat. 

Bruce Garber from Sheridan, Wyoming joined the Easterseals-Goodwill Board of Directors last year. As the Broker-Owner of Century 21 BHJ Realty. Inc. that serves the Sheridan and Johnson County area of Wyoming, he brings immense expertise to our organization. Bruce has been involved in many philanthropic and community organizations over the years, including Easterseals Wyoming. During Century 21 International Week of Giving, we thank Bruce for making our organization and our community better! 

They may not be employees, but Stormy and River have an important role helping one of our staff members in Easterseals-Goodwill’s Behavioral Health program. They are Justin Humber’s service animals, helping him at work as a clinician and at home. For four years, Stormy has been coming to work with Justin. Stormy was so well trained that she began noticing when clients were experiencing the same type of anxiety as Justin. “Stormy was able to pick up the cues when clients were uncomfortable or anxious,” said Justin. When Stormy developed a health condition that would require an early retirement as a service animal, it was hard on both Justin and clients who had loved and cared for her over the years. That’s when Justin began training River. Read more about Justin, Stormy and River at https://lnkd.in/dREVnJWc. Today is the 34th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), which greatly expanded the civil rights of people with disabilities. It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, education, and public accommodations, helping ensure that people with disabilities have the opportunity to live independently, support themselves and their families, and realize their full potential. Easterseals-Goodwill is proud to support our employees and participants who use service animals as defined by the ADA to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. #ADA34 #DisabilityPride #ThanksToTheADA #Easterseals #Goodwill

Stasha Permann joined Easterseals-Goodwill in June 2023 and works part-time as an occupational therapist on our Medallion Home Health clinical team. Stasha graduated from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND in 2017 and specializes in shoulder stability and scapular mobilization. She also educates and trains patients on task modification and provides medical equipment recommendations to make everyday life easier after a traumatic injury/event. Stasha also works for the rural school districts of Cascade County, where she specializes in autism and other neurodiverse populations, as well as neuromuscular disorders such as cerebral palsy and Angelman's syndrome. She says, "I love being an occupational therapist because it allows me to be creative and keeps me on my toes as no one person is ever alike. Every day is different, and client centered." When Stasha's not working, she likes to spend time outdoors with her boyfriend, hiking, camping, fishing, playing on the water, and enjoying summer nights with friends and family.