Teens can learn and earn through Goodwill’s Summer Youth program

Summer Youth participants work with a Goodwill job coach over a five-week period at area businesses. Participants are paid minimum wage ($10.10 an hour) throughout the program where they learn the skills needed to gain work experience to help them get a job and sustain employment when they are ready.

Goodwill may be able to provide transportation for participants to and from the job sites. In 2022, its workforce team served 36 youth through the program, which is open to ages 14-21 in Athens, Fayette, Hocking, Jackson, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, and Vinton counties.

While learning is the focus of the program, occasionally there have been participants who are offered a job at the work site. Sessions this year will run from June 12 to July 14.

In addition to Goodwill stores, this year’s work sites currently include:

Hocking County

Millstone BBQ

Jackson County

Lazy Dog Camp

Pickaway County

Bubba’s Corner

Tarlton Market

Pike County

Dogwood Pass

YMCA

Ross County

Accurate Heating and Cooling

Bee Guy Supplies

Frisch’s

Mighty Children’s Museum

Ross County Park District

Ross County Humane Society

Rural King

Shawnee Campground

Shawnee Lanes

Fayette County

Launch Entertainment

Fayette Humane Society

SNS Janitorial Service

Vinton County

Campbells Market

Anyone interested in the Summer Youth program (individual or business) can contact Goodwill for more information at 740-702-4000 Ext. 129.

Goodwill is a nonprofit agency focused on partnering with individuals with disabilities and challenges to help them lead the lives they envision across an eight-county region: Athens, Fayette, Hocking, Jackson, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, and Vinton. As of March, Goodwill of South Central Ohio, based in Chillicothe, is serving 277 people across its region.