"Goodwill Service Guild Presents Annual Mini Fest and Celebrates 80th Anniversary!"

Friday, May 3rd signaled the start of Ohio Valley Goodwill’s Service Guild’s Spring Mini Fest held at the corporate headquarters in Woodlawn. The annual two-day festival is presented by volunteer members of the Service Guild and offers homemade  baked goods and candy, wonderful gifts from the Treasure Island Gift Shop, Elegant Junque and collectibles, books, tapes and CD’s, and a grill-out during lunchtime. The annual event is one of the Service Guild’s largest fundraising  activities and helps the organization to support  services that assist Goodwill with its mission to help put people to work! This year the Mini Fest is even more noteworthy because it helps to  mark the beginning of activities that celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Service Guild. For many years, various church groups have been involved in supporting Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries through monetary gifts and through direct services. Established in 1933, the Service Guild of Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries was organized from key women from these early churches and formed the nucleus of the group which now has over 100 members. Its first leader was Mrs. Edna Woodward who provided who provided leadership for the organization for many years. The Service Guild and its volunteers support the Treasure Island Gift Shop which operates in the Tri-County retail store and provides much of the income that the organization generates. The Service Guild also helps to promote the mission of Ohio Valley Goodwill, conducts fundraising activities to benefit special activities of the organization, and assists in outreach to the community on behalf of Ohio Valley Goodwill. Each year, Service Guild members help with the annual golf outing, sponsor the yearly Thanksgiving, holiday luncheons, and Veterans Day luncheons, and offer a cash gift to consumers during the holiday. As a special fundraising event, the Service Guild holds a semi-annual Mini Fest each spring and fall at the Goodwill corporate facility. The organization also offers a large cash donation to Ohio Valley Goodwill each year. Over the years, the Service Guild has helped to sponsor many special activities including the sponsorship of runners in the annual “Flying Pig” Marathon and other activities that consumers and staff have been involved in on the part of the organization. The Service Guild is truly an ambassador for Ohio Valley Goodwill. In this their 80th year, we salute the Service Guild for their dedication and support of Ohio Valley Goodwill and thank each member for the time they have given to our organization. Ohio Valley Goodwill appreciates the work and commitment that the Service Guild has given over the past 80 years and we congratulate them on this special anniversary!