Supporting adults with disabilities to enjoy active and fulfilling lives.

December 19 started out as an ordinary day at Community Opportunities Club South, but quickly turned into a delightful day when we received an unexpected phone call from Zoe. Zoe is the Education Coordinator at the Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful organization. She remembered our group from our November tour of the city recycling center. She explained to me that Hyden Nursery, a greenhouse that they partner with to enhance their greenspace on the Marquette University campus, left a donation of 200 poinsettia plants at their office and they wanted to share them with their community partners. Read More

The Goodwill Day Services programs held their annual Holiday Bazaar on Friday, November 17th, at the Goodwill Center for Work and Training – Southwest Campus (GSC). All six Goodwill day programs worked for months to create the unique collection of art, food, home décor, and bath and body items that were for sale.

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For many years, Robin was a Recreation Assistant at the Community Opportunities Club (COC) North, which is part of our Day Services program. The participants there loved working with her. Oftentimes she made wonderful meals, special treats for holidays and other celebrations at the club. Cooking was a passion for Robin. For a long time she dreamed of opening her own restaurant. Last year, she finally did!

But, let me tell you a little bit more about Robin. She grew up in the West Allis area, learning to eat what was fresh and was taught that canning the best foods was important as well— even in the off season. In 1985 Robin married a Sailor from the East Coast who was born and raised on a five-generation dairy farm. And that's how she came to be known as “The Farmer's Wife!”

Fast forward to 2017 when she opened “The Farmer’s Wife,” which was an older home converted into the restaurant. It’s located on the corner of West Mitchell Street and South 66th Street, and you can see the West Allis Farmer’s Market from inside the restaurant. If you are looking for unique cuisine that includes local produce and other items, this is the place for you. You’ll be treated to menu items like Lobster Roll and Stuffed Quahog. According to Robin and Dick, “Local means Wisconsin made and grown and this is so important to us at "The Farmer's Wife." At least 95% of our product comes from right here in Wisconsin. That's what it is all about.”

Once our members of the COC West found out about the restaurant, they decided to check it out. And, boy were they impressed! They enjoyed an excellent lunch from the former Goodwill employee, who they remember with fondness —not only for her great cooking but also for her fun-loving attitude at Goodwill!

I’m guessing COC South group will be making a trip to “The Farmer’s Wife” very soon!

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As promised, each quarter we will feature a collage that showcases all the fun our participants in our Goodwill Day Services and Life Skills Development Programs have had year to date!

We invite you to view the fantastic activities our participants at the Goodwill Center for Work and Training–Southwest Campus enjoyed so far! We hope you like them too! If you have any questions on our programs feel free to contact us at (855) 455-1110.

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Musician Roy Ayers said, “The true beauty of music is that it connects people. It carries a message and we, the musicians, are the messengers.” For Goodwill participants in the Day Services Choir at the James O. Wright Center for Work and Training (JOW) program, the message expressed through song is that regardless of individual differences, we all have a gift to share with the world.

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Goodwill Community Opportunities Club members enjoy the activities and events we plan for them, but they really enjoy seeing  Dan the Cartoon Man. We discovered Dan Kashian many years ago when he was doing a weekly cartoon for the Bay View Press. Read More

In the past two years, Goodwill Life Skills Development and Day Services have taken over the responsibility of a large garden at the Center for Work and Training campus in Greendale. Last year the theme of the garden was Alice in Wonderland. Included in the garden was an array of perennials that consisted of hostas, lilies, roses, hydrangeas, lilacs, an evergreen tree and decorative grasses. Also planted last year, was a “healing” herbs section that included five different varieties of mint, lemon grass, bee balm, rosemary and lots and lots of lavender. The Alice in Wonderland theme garden was polished off with ornamental items such as tea pots, the Cheshire cat, the Queen of Hearts and her guards, and about twenty teacups that had flowers and grasses planted in them. The tea party was complete.

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On Friday, June 23, Day Services and Life Skills Development programs at the James O. Wright Center for Work and Training (JOW) in Milwaukee hosted their third annual Day Services Carnival. This event generates tremendous excitement from both participants and staff who look forward to the carnival throughout the spring. For the 85 participants enrolled in the two programs, this event is an opportunity to socialize with friends and Goodwill employees, sample treats and drinks, win fabulous prizes, and enjoy the beautiful summer weather.  It also provides them with a fun way to develop fine and gross motor skills, math skills, and self-advocacy skills through the games, activities, and tickets earned during their participation in the carnival.

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As promised, each quarter we will feature a collage that showcases all the fun our participants in our Goodwill Day Services and Life Skills Development Programs have had year to date!

We invite you to view the fantastic activities our participants at the Goodwill Center for Work and Training–Southwest Campus enjoyed so far! We hope you like them too! If you have any questions on our programs feel free to contact us at (855) 455-1110.

Read More

Goodwill’s Community Opportunities Club North started their very own Mileage Club with the help of Recreation Assistant Joey James. Participants walk laps daily on the outdoor, paved, quarter-mile track. With hard work and a competitive spirit, they built up their stamina to participate (and host) in the program’s first ever Flower Power 5K fun run/walk held on May 25.

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