Built with Purpose: The History behind Goodwill Acadiana

The Origin Story

Since 1990, Goodwill Acadiana has been a neighbor to this community to reduce poverty, restore independence, and transform lives. That year, Louisiana cut funding for sheltered workshops, and 35 people lost their jobs overnight. Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana's director saw the gap in services and sent Sandy and Charles Purgahn to Acadiana with a simple goal: build something new to fill it in.

They started small. What began as a test to see if this kind of support could work here grew, step by step, into the Goodwill Acadiana you know today.

Our Growth

It all started with one store on Ambassador Caffery. That single location grew into 14 more stores and 6 donation centers spanning 9 parishes. In 1998, we expanded into affordable housing, managing 34 locations that give seniors and people with disabilities a stable place to call home.

In 2024, Mission Services joined our corporate office to form the Opportunity Campus, a single place where people can access the services they need. These services include adult HiSET preparation, employment services, community service, crisis assistance, supported employment, pre-vocational habilitation, and affordable housing.

And in 2025, we opened GoodPrints, a mission-integrated print shop that helps people with disabilities restore their independence and build career skills!

Still Growing

In 35 years of serving Acadiana, the progress speaks for itself. Last year alone, we touched 9,067 lives. Since 2017, that number climbs past 60,000. And we're not slowing down. A new store is on the way in Morgan City. But growth in stores and donation centers has never been the real measure of our progress. The real measure is every life and family we've helped transform right here in our community.

You can help us grow that number! Spread the word about our mission. Drop off a donation at one of our centers. Shop at one of our stores. Join us in reducing poverty, restoring independence, and transforming lives across Acadiana!

It's Never Too Late: How Goodwill Acadiana Changes Lives

Every time you shop with us or drop off a donation, something bigger happens. That bag of clothes or that afternoon of thrifting helps fund real second chances for your neighbors right here in Acadiana.

Take our HiSET program for example. It helps adults earn their high school diplomas, no matter what got in the way the first time around. Some students finish in two days. Others take two years. We meet people where they are, because the goal isn't speed. It's opening a door that leads somewhere better.

This July, that door opened for three real people in your community. Meet Alexus, Marq, and Jodi, and see what your support made possible.

Meet Alexus

One of our recent HiSET graduates is a young mom supporting her children! Alexus dropped out of high school to get a job, as she thought it was better than going to school. Now that she has two kids to support, she was motivated to go back and get her HiSET.

She passed all of her tests with extremely high scores and is going to South Louisiana Community College this fall to pursue phlebotomy then nursing. To make things even better, she's crossing the graduation stage in December with her boyfriend, who's graduating in HVAC!

Her message to others is, "Keep going. Never give up."

She has such a kind and gentle soul and we're so proud of her! We're here to support her the whole way- this isn't the end of her journey!

Meet Marq

Another one of our graduates is a young man making his own path!

Marq was a self-proclaimed troublemaker in school, causing him to drop out in the 10th grade and enroll in the Louisiana National Guard's Youth Challenge Program. He realized the military lifestyle wasn't for him and bounced around to various jobs and cities to make ends meet.

He recently moved back to Lafayette and enrolled in our HiSET program, passing all of our tests within ONE month! Now, he's going off to trade school to pursue an HVAC or welding program, with the goal of running his own business one day.

He's excited about the future ahead and is extremely thankful for his family's support.

His message to others is, "Stay on the right track, stay focused, and don't let your emotions overwhelm you and stop you from what you're doing."

Marq has such a bright future ahead of him! We're so proud of him, and we can't wait to see what he does next!

Meet Jodi

Lastly, but certainly not least, let us meet a woman who regained her life and wants to help others do the same!

Jodi dropped out of school in 9th grade to have her first child and get married. She started struggling with drug use at 18, and she'd sadly lose bother her husband and second-born in sudden ways.

She moved around to many sober living homes trying to get clean, and once she found the Oxford House of Louisiana, she was able to get sober and travel to show others life after addiction. Now she's proudly 3 years sober!

Since then, she started working in Behavioral Health to help others along the same journey she went through. To get the job she wanted, she needed her HiSET, and she joined our program to do just that.

Now that she's achieved her goal, she's pursuing her Peer Support license and additional certifications so she can one day work on the clinical side and "give back what was freely given to her."

She gives thanks to God for helping her overcome her obstacles, stating "It's God, sobriety, then everything else."

Jodi is a light and inspiration. She's a testament to what hard work can do and we're so proud of her!

The Takeaway

The next time you drop off a bag or browse our racks, remember what's behind it. These aren't just stories. They're lives you helped change. Alexus, Marq, and Jodi are proof of what your donations make possible, and they're just three of the neighbors you're impacting every day.

Join us in reducing poverty, restoring independence, and transforming lives across Acadiana. Donate or shop today and be part of the change!

Back-to-School on a Budget: What Can You Find at Goodwill Acadiana?

The Struggle is Real

Back-to-school shopping has a way of sneaking up on you. Your kid grew two inches over the summer, so the uniforms from last year don't fit anymore. That backpack they've dragged around since last year is now falling apart. And that's before you even look at the supply list your child's teacher sent home or think about the books they'll need for reading points at school and at home.

It adds up fast, and at Goodwill Acadiana, we're here to help you stretch that budget!

We've Got You Covered!

Our stores carry almost about everything on the list, including backpacks, lunch boxes, reusable water bottles, shoes, and uniform pieces like plain polos, khaki pants and shorts, and plaid skirts. Whether your child is heading into elementary school or walking into their first day of high school, you can find it here.

And if your student is headed off to college instead, we've got you covered too. We have baskets, lamps, small furniture, and room decor for their dorm room. We even come across school spirit gear now and then, so your college kid can show up to game day dressed to represent!

Shopping that Gives Back to Your Neighbors

The part we love most about back-to-school shopping at Goodwill Acadiana is that it's not just about the deal you're getting - it's about who you're helping while you shop.

Every dollar you spend in our stores stays right here in Acadiana. It funds programs like adult education, job training, crisis assistance, and affordable housing for your neighbors who are working to get back on their feet. So, while you're checking items off your kid's supply list, you're also helping someone in your community earn their high school diploma, land a job, or find stable housing. That backpack you just found for a few bucks? It's doing a lot more than holding pencils and folders.

We call that a win-win, and we mean it. You save money, your neighbors get a fresh start, and Acadiana gets a little stronger. That's what our mission is all about- reducing poverty, restoring independence, and transforming lives, one purchase and one donation at a time.

So, before that first bell rings, swing by your nearest Goodwill Acadiana store. Your kids get what they need, and your community gets a boost too!