City in Sound; Goodwill Industries

Good evening. This is Jim Hurl, but exploring for you the many facets of our gem of a city on the city and sound. Tonight the voice with a smile that opens the door to Goodwill. Good afternoon, Goodwill. Just one moment please. I'll connect you with the pickup department. We'll meet the owner of that voice later on as we carry our microphones through the five floors of one of Chicago's most unusual and interesting industries, an industry with which most of us are at least remotely familiar because we've seen its big vans and operations on the streets of our cities and suburbs. President and past, there's a good deal with the story of Goodwill Industries. We find out first about Goodwill's role in the community through its Executive Director, William Rogolio. Your Mr. William Rogolio and you're the Executive Director of Goodwill Industry here in Chicago. Right. You know Mr. Rogolio, I know you know more about Goodwill Industry probably than anybody else here. And certainly a good deal more than anyone listening to us because

I think a good many people like myself are familiar with Goodwill Industry. We've seen the Goodwill trucks on the street and we know that they'll come and take things away from our house, things that we no longer have any direct use for. And we know that they go, we don't know where they go, we don't know what they do. And I think maybe we could find out a little bit from you about Goodwill Industry and what it is and where it started why it would help us a lot and understand any more about this great operation. Well, I'm very grateful that you have come to ask this question because many people wonder what happened to these discards that they give to Goodwill Industries. If they knew that they made it possible for at least 450 people to be continually working in productive work, paying their own way, being self supporting as well as self respecting, I think that would make you all feel very happy. Materials

that come to Goodwill are picked up by our big red Goodwill trucks. They're brought here to the plant where it's processed, repaired by handicapped people is then put into our Goodwill stores for sale to those persons who normally could not afford to pay the prices that they would have to in other stores throughout the community. So we're doing a double barreled service there. But in this process, we are also making it possible for handicapped persons, your own neighbors, to get training, training and work adjustment, exploratory training. Even though we're not a formalized trade school, we do graduate quite a number of people into industry. Last year, we know of 68 people that we personally were able to place them in jobs outside. Many more people did leave us, however, while we don't have factual statistics, we do know that at

least 50 to 75 people found jobs on their own. We also give employment to handicapped people who, because of their severe handicapped, could not hold down a job in industry. Did Goodwill originate in Chicago? No. Goodwill industries began in Boston about 50 years ago. Would you like to know the history? I'd like a little bit of it to be interesting. It is an interesting history because it was founded by a Methodist preacher by the name of Dr. Helms, Dr. Edgar J. Helms, who went to Boston as a young man, and he found himself stationed at a small mission church down in the south end of Boston. While there, he found that in order to satisfy the spiritual needs of the people, he had also to take care of some of the material needs. And so, he decided that he would, on his own, go to the homes of Back Bay in Boston,

asking those people for clothing and other items which were needed by members of his church. And out of that developed this idea of Goodwill industries, in which materials are purchased in stores by people who need the clothing, and yet the persons who need to help also are helped by being given employment. And in 50 years, Goodwill industry has gone a long way. How long has it been here in Chicago? Goodwill industries has been here in Chicago for 37 years. I don't know the founder here in Chicago, but I do know that there was a group of interested laymen as well as churchmen who started Goodwill industries originally. And up until recently, it was sort of a church centered group. But because of the great demand for rehabilitation services, the great demand

by the community, we broke away and became inter -denominational approximately 15 years ago. And we now serve persons of all creeds, colors, races, and we have about 450 people who belong to just about every organization and church that there is. And they're all very busy here working in this Goodwill industry's building at 1 ,500 West Monroe Street. That's right. We just got off the elevator on the fifth floor here. It looks to me like this is the furniture floor here at the Goodwill industry's headquarters. That right, sir? That's right. And you're the supervisor of this floor? I'm the upholstery department. What's your name? Louis Rostler. What goes on up here? It's a pretty busy place. You can hear how busy it is and you can certainly see it. Well, we have a training program for these handicapped folks that

sort of get some ready for private industry. You might tell me about the training program and what goes into it because these people don't look like they're training. They're all hard at work. Well, most of them have been here for quite a while. What do they actually do in this training program? Well, it's a program where we take furniture that's sent in and well renovated, refinished, repaired. Let's talk about the fellows who are working up here, Mr. Rostler. There are great many people working here. How about 30? We have about 34 on the floor at the present time. And these are people from all over Chicago, I suppose. That's true. They come here every day. Are they all handicapped people? All handicapped. You're a paraplegic yourself, aren't you? That's right. You get around pretty well. Oh, yes. These people were originally people who worked in a poultry and furniture repair. No, no, not all of them. But they have an idea. They'd like to get into this line. And we sort of try to place

them into what they would most desire. Now, you can actually do all kinds of a poultry work up here. Yes, everything. The same thing is true of other types of furniture. Other than just a poultry, it is the repairing of broken pieces. That is true. I suppose things come in here and all sorts of disrepair. They do. They do. But everything really with some effort can be put in pretty good conditions. We've got a new lease on life up here and start all over again. Oh, yes. Perhaps more or less like the handicapped folks. That's true. Just on the back side of the floor here is a busy place. Pardon me, sir. What's going on over here? As you see here, this man unloads all the trucks that comes in the warehouse. That's his job. Place it on the sorting table. Now, this man here, he picks out

all the better material and places it, which is along to the price. Right here, it is determined just what it's worth. And if it's good enough to go for resale. What do you call this particular part of the operation? Sorting. Sorting and pricing. What is your name, sir? Sam Bernstein. You've been here a long time? About 20 years. Had you really? Yes, sir. Are you handicapped, Mr. Bernstein? Yeah. You never know. Does he guy? Progressive muscular disrepair. See. The work here at the sorting table is the equivalent of appraising the stuff that comes in, is that it? That's right. What all comes in here, everything out of the zone? Everything that's in the house except clothing. There's the apartment. I just get everything on the building. Other things from dolls to dishes? That's right. And from a hide top hat to a movie machine or what have you. And you look at it. Place it, appraise it, and it goes out of the soul with

somebody else. That's fine. Does he hear all the time? All the time. All the time. This is probably the cleanest clothing we've found I've ever seen. Well, we try to keep it clean. We feel that cleanliness is next to godliness and that it should be as clean as possible. It must be pleasant to work here on this such a nice condition. It is. Are you the supervisor and charge of this floor? Yes, I am. What's your name? Ruby Brewer. I've never seen so many clothes I don't think all together in one place. Well, we need more than we got. Do you really? Yes, we do. How much do you process here in a day? Well, we go through on the belt. We run 50 trucks a day when we can get them. Are you referring to those huge trucks that are sitting down over there? They're not told. It takes that much to keep our, you know, this part running a whole eight hours a day. How many people do you have working on here? We have, I have 66 now. Really?

In this department. Men and women both. Men and women. And they do what there? They are pressers. We have prices, sorters, presses, and seamstresses and tailors. They're all people who are handicapped? Yes. And doing a good job up here? Yes, they are. How long have you been here? Four years. Like it? Yes, I do. Well, I'm enjoying talking to you. Thank you. What floor are we on here? You're now on the third floor electrical mechanical department. Are you the supervisor on this floor? I am the supervisor. What's your name? Don Schaefer. It's a pretty busy floor, Don. We're quite busy here repairing all different items. When you say all different items, what kind of different items do you actually have come in to have to work on? Well, I think everything electrical, mechanical is in any home in the United States. And you do everything to them from repairing the wiring to shining up the outside. That's right. That's right. You see a lot of fellows in wheelchairs, a lot of fellows that sell one arm man over there. They all able to work on this stuff and turn out a job.

Well, we have to put the men where they're best capable to do their handicapped. When our man cannot wind cords, so we have to use him as a handler or we can work on different electrical items in assisting another electrician more or less. What else goes on on the floor here? We have our radio department with four or five men. We have our TV department with three men. And our small electrical appliances, the irons, wash and toasters, lamps. We have around seven men. We have a certain amount of people off every day. Do their handicapped and of course the weather. We have a sewing machine department, stoves, washers, dryers, electric ranges. All this material comes in here, some of it in a sad state of disrepair. But when you're through with it, it's ready to go to work

again. That's right, it's all ready for sale. Here's switchboard. It seems to be one of the busy places here at Goodwill. It's early, yeah, it's Mr. Herald. We find that we're very busy most times. Your name is Virginia Keck, isn't it? Yes, that's right. Yes, Mercedes. Hello. Yes, Shirley, just a moment, please. I get my talking with you in between these calls. You've been here a long time. Yes, 15 years last October. What kind of calls do you get to come in on the board here, Virginia? Well, we get a variety of calls. Most of the calls are people calling us asking for our trucks to pick up the material they wish to donate. Of course, there are business calls and inter -office calls also at the same time. But the majority

are for pickup of material. Do people tell you what they have to be picked up? Do you have to have that information? Yes, we have to have that information. There are some articles that we're unable to take. And if we have all the information, right, first hand, we know exactly what we'll be picking up. Good afternoon to you all. One moment, please. Just a moment, please. Hello. All right. Hello. That's small, please. Now? Now? In the clear again. In the clear again. It keeps you very busy here and here very active. Did you learn to run the switchboard here at Goodwill? Yes, I did. And I hadn't run a switchboard at all until I came to Goodwill. What did you do before you came over there? I didn't do anything. Goodwill gave me my first opportunity and to go

to working outside industry and I've been with Goodwill ever since. So nice place to work, isn't it? It's very nice. I really have enjoyed every moment of it. Are there personal satisfaction in the job that you do down here? Very, very much. As I said, I had never worked before and had never ever thought of being a switchboard operator with my handicap. And they gave me my big chance and I feel that I had made a success of it. Well, you're true. That was a nice talk to you. I enjoyed it very much. Thank you, Mr. Herman. I call him a colonel. I'll recognize the face as well as the voice. Fine. Thank you very much. Your name is Harry. Speed. Harry's speed? S -P -W -E -D? That is correct, sir. A slow man with a fast name, did you say? So very right. You were elected Goodwill Worker of the Year last year. That is correct, yes. How long have you been down here, Mr. Speed? I have been in this department since last May.

Incidentally, I've been with Goodwill since April 12th of 57. For well over a year, you've been down here. Not quite. No, it'll be a year this coming May. I'm in this department. Oh, in this department? But with Goodwill, you've been here well over a year. Two years in April. How did you lose your legs? I broke a toenail, sir. I stumbled. I made a mistake. Is that right? I had to let into one trouble with another. You've got a wonderful voice, Mr. Speed. Are you a professional singer? Well, I've done choral work with the... Oh, several of the churches. And I was with a group, a male chorus, which was turning professional in about 32 to 36. It was wonderful. Actually down here, you are engaged in office work at the present time. Something that I never anticipated doing. I've always been an outside man. And I like the outside. But it's

one of those things that was forced upon me. And I'm only too grateful to be able to carry on the way that I am now. And thank goodness I've only lost one day. And I've only been late once. That was during this last six -inch snow hike. My wheelchair just wouldn't go through it. Of course, you have a little help with getting to work. God, I will. You and Lou Kusler get down here to work, don't you, together? Yes, Lou Rossler is a very fine person. He picks me up every morning and I ride home with him in the evening. I think I know now what they mean by goodwill industry. It means the place where men of goodwill work. That is right. I like the environment here. I wouldn't have it any other way. When you work in a place, say approximately 500 people here. And so many adverse conditions of people in

all stages of being, of course, I hate the word handicap. I don't believe it. I say that a handicap person is, it means that that person is a very special person. Because you take in a horse race, the handicap horse is the one they put the most penalties on. True. Very additional weight, isn't it? That's right. So that is what has been imposed on us here. But everybody is so cheerful about it. And another thing, there's always a dozen pairs of hands. I hope you do the things that you can do better yourself. Which, of course, brings into being, you know, the love of humanity. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. And I can come back to this call in. What are you going to do when you come back to the call? Push the button in. Say can I drag you away from that conference for a minute? Yes, sir. What are you getting a new telephone system here? Yes, sir. New phone system. What is this particular part of the operation here? This is a contract department. What does that mean? We do outside contract work for contractors such as con container, stone container,

guest pack. During little odd jobs, which are nuisance jobs, other words, to these contractors. Things that it's hard to do in their own shop, they can put it over here. You have the room and the people available who can handle it. Handicap people are willing to do the work. What is your name, man? George Kaufman's, my name. Are you in show business, George, before you? I have been in show business, sir. Have you? What were you with? Live travel with circuses and state shows. And pairing on such shows is Jackie Gleason, the big top, super circus, Jerry Cologne. Just a name of you. Is that right? Yes, sir. How tall are you, George? Four foot one. You're a big man in this business. Pretty big guy. Are you the supervisor down here? I am the former male on the contract department floor. This is a very active room normally. I think they're out having a coffee break right now, most of the people. Yes, sir. How many people work in here? Around 60 when we're at full production. And the type of work that you do depends upon the type of contract that you have been. It depends upon that and the type of work that these people can do. Do you enjoy working down here? Very much

so. So I want to go back to show business? I have the urge once in a while. I guess we all do. Carvin, are you in charge here on the Shoey Perry Department? No, I'm not Mr. Laila's charge here. Well, do you work in the department? Well, I did work at the... What time? Were you not here anymore? No, right now. What happened? Well, I left here and took up my own shop. What was that right? Well, did you know Shoey Perry before you came down here? No, I didn't. You know, I was a sheet metal work before I came here to work in Perry's shoes. Is that so? How did you have to get out of the sheet metal work? Well, I had a head stroke with the Eucala stroke or clad. And of course, I couldn't work and mourn as she meets my work too heavy for me. So I got a friend of mine. He got me a job here working a shoe shop here at Goodwill. What did you do when you had to learn how to repair shoes? How'd you go about it? Well, I just got to learn from Mr. Lyle

here. He gave me the fundamentals of fixing shoes. Well, of course. There he shows a pickup point here and there. And I was here about... Oh, I said seven months. Oh, repairing shoes here until I got my own shop. I know I got Mr. Lyle's name. I don't think I asked you your name. My name is Albert Nassie. Albert M. Nassie. Where's your shop? My shop is at 26 -22 West Pippenheim Street. Here in Chicago? Yes. Well, how come you're down here today? Well, I have been visiting all my friends. Yes, I've met here that I was working here. And I would say one thing for Mr. Lyle's here. He's learned me a lot. He's for the shoe business, of course. You know what I mean? He's taught you your trade well. No, he sure has helped me a lot, you know. Mr. Lyle, you're the boss of the department here. How long have you been here? In Chicago? No, here in the Goodwill Industry shoe department.

About a year and six months, sorry. Six or eight months. What did you do before that? I ran business. Shoely paraphrasing? Shoely paraphrasing. In Chicago? In Chicago. Long time? About 17 years since 1940. That right. How'd you have to have to leave it? Well, I took six. After I got out the house, I put a light wig. Well, in the time that you've been down here, you've had a lot of fellows working with you. We're learning the shoe repair business by the few of them. Do you think that they are able to learn the business and do it well? Well, some of them are doing extra, most of them are doing extra well. Some have been able to do good for themselves. Are you pleased when you see a fellow get out and go out to do his own business? That's the happiest time of all the job that give me more satisfaction than as much as practically as my paycheck. I like that better as well. Thank you, sir. And that, in itself, a good reason for being

for Goodwill Industries. And that's the city in sound. Jim Herbert reporting, engineer George Wilson riding the game.