UPPER EAST SIDE — A new Goodwill store opened Friday morning on First Avenue, providing jobs and financial counseling to 20 local residents, a spokesman for the organization said on Friday.
The 1114 First Ave. shop at East 61st Street opened its doors at 10 a.m. after a ceremonial ribbon cutting, where the company announced its plan to offer financial help to its staff.
Over the next year, 20 percent of all The Goodwill New York New Jersey employees chain-wide will get free financial coaching both in-person and virtually, thanks to a partnership with Citi Community Development and Neighborhood Financial Trust, said Katy Gaul-Stigge, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and Northern NJ.
The program is being launched by covering the coaching costs of all 20 employees of the East 61st Street store, according to spokesman Jose Medellin.
Neighborhood Trust, which is a city-based organization that does financial counseling, will track willing employees' financials, with the goal of reducing debt, increasing savings, and creating stronger credit scores. Citi Community Development is funding the program, Medellin said.
Roughly 50 percent of their employees work as entry level staffers and make $35,000 a year or less. The Goodwill hires those with disabilities and other barriers, Medellin added.
It's the second Goodwill store in the neighborhood, with the first located on Second Avenue and East 88th Street. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
The thrift store chain has 12 outposts across Manhattan and one outlet in Long Island City.
"Along with my fellow East Siders, I am pleased to welcome Goodwill to the neighborhood and look forward to collaborating with the store to benefit our community," said Councilman Ben Kallos, who attended the ribbon cutting.
"Goodwill stores create job opportunities for people with disabilities and reduce environmental waste by extending the lives of products, keeping them out of landfills."
