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!