Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization that operates 12 retail stores in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. The organization's mission is to create opportunities for individuals with barriers to enhance their lives. Goodwill funds job training programs, employment placement services, and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items. In 2023, Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois served 27,963 people in the communities it serves and employed over 750 people in retail and mission programs. The organization's stores are located in northern Illinois (Rockford, Machesney Park, Freeport, Sterling, DeKalb, Ottawa, McHenry, Huntley, Crystal Lake, and Algonquin) and Beloit, Wisconsin. Customers have mixed experiences with Goodwill stores. Some report that the Freeport store is the cleanest and most organized, with friendly and hands-on management, while others have noticed a recent shift in the organization, with employees seeming less engaged and prices increasing significantly. However, Goodwill's mission of supporting job training and community programs remains at the forefront, and the organization continues to be an important resource for families, seniors, and those with lower incomes in the region.
