"Goodwill gave me the second chance I needed."

Mark Palmowski is a United States Marine Corps veteran who served our country for four years. After his time in the military, Mark planned to make truck driving his career and trained at the National Tractor Trailer School. A brief incarceration sidelined his plans, and he found it extremely difficult to find a job. Mark’s path led him to Goodwill where he was hired as a dockworker in the Donated Goods Processing area where he loaded and unloaded tr...

 "I am just so proud of myself which is something I've never felt before. My prayers are finally being answered and Goodwill is a huge part of that answer."

Andrew had "hit rock bottom" in his life. He was living in Syracuse and had just gotten home after “doing time” in prison for eight years. He was ready for a change, and decided he needed to be “a new face in a new place”. Since Andrew’s fiancé was from Buffalo, they decided Buffalo would be the place to make that new start. 

Andrew knew he n...

"Goodwill gave me an opportunity. This place is really a blessing for me."

For most of his life, Armando Diaz Flores had worked in the construction field as a handyman both in Puerto Rico and in Philadelphia where he lived before he and his family moved to Buffalo eight years ago.  He’ll tell you that “life was hard” for him, his wife and two children. Even though he worked “24/7” there never seemed to be enough money in his pocket to provide for himself and his family.  His situation was further...

Ford Gum & Machine Company (Ford Gum) is a leading manufacturer of Big League Chew® Bubblegum, Smarties® licensed confections, Carousel® gumball machines and Jelly Belly® licensed gum. Additionally, the company is a leading manufacturer of gum for private label and bulk vending sales.

In 1913, Ford Mason founded Ford Gum with limited resources, but with unlimited enthusiasm. He created a business empire stretching from coast-to-coast. Over 500,000 vending machines perched on store counters and p...

The Buffalo State College Fashion and Textile Technology program unlocks an array of exciting career options in the fashion industry for students who pursue a degree.  

 
One of the many opportunities afforded to students is participation in a class that offers service learning through Buffalo State’s Civic and Community Engagement division. Students in Issues in Merchandising and Fashion Retailing and now students in the Fundamentals of the Fashion Industry classes have partnered with...