A Silicon Valley nonprofit is opening its first prison store

Goodwill has opened a new store in the most unexpected place — and for employees, it could be a life-changing experience.

Goodwill of Silicon Valley opened its first store last week at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas, offering incarcerated women hands-on training in how to use a cash register and select and sort items. The small shop is stocked with shoes, backpacks, pants, shirts, sweaters, underwear and socks. It’s open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m., and women being laid off are scheduled to stop by the store to pick out free clothing.

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Goodwill has opened a new store in the most unexpected place — and for employees, it could be a life-changing experience. Goodwill of Silicon Valley opened its first store last week at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas, offering incarcerated women hands-on training in how to use a cash register and select and sort items. The small shop is stocked with shoes, backpacks, pants, shirts, sweaters as well as underwear and socks. It’s open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m., and women being laid off are scheduled to stop by the store to pick out free clothing. Learn more at SanJoseSpotlight.com.

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The idea of ​​setting up shop at the prison came about when Goodwill employees and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office discussed how to better care for incarcerated people. Goodwill partners with the county’s Reentry Resource Center and has been working with people exiting the criminal justice system for more than a decade.

“As part of that … the idea came about that maybe we could bring a store here and do some training and provide the clothing to the women as they leave,” said Trish Dorsey, vice president of mission services at Goodwill of Silicon Valley, San Jose said Spotlight.

Women who behave well at Elmwood, such as taking classes, will manage the store twice a week. Goodwill hopes to offer the job training to incarcerated men at a later date.

The shop is particularly valuable for 30-year-old Myra. This is her first job.

“This program is really important to me,” she told San Jose Spotlight. “I never had any professional experience. Having a cash register, having a store that helps me see what I have to do in terms of working in a store is a good opportunity for me. I will be released with a lot of professional experience.”

Other incarcerated women expressed that this opportunity is a stepping stone to transition back into the workforce with employable skills – something they can display on their resumes. Working at the facility could help the women find work at a Goodwill store in the county after their release.

“​​Having this experience in prison is unprecedented,” Sinica, 46, told San José Spotlight.

This program not only provides incarcerated women with the opportunity to find employment upon release, but those released also have the opportunity to choose clean clothing. Upon release, women are allowed to take home two tops, two bottoms, a pack of underwear, a pack of socks, shoes and a backpack free of charge to ease the transition back into society.
“I think this is invaluable to them,” Jessica Castello, vice president of retail at Goodwill of Silicon Valley, told San Jose Spotlight. “We not only give them the tools they need to re-enter society with job skills, but we also show them that they matter.” We give them clothes so they can go out with their heads held high. I hope they choose something to interview.”

The store uses clothing donations that Goodwill of Silicon Valley receives, and the Elmwood Correctional Facility allows the nonprofit to use the space for free. Castello wants to encourage other goodwills across the country to implement similar programs.

“I’m going to start talking to other goodwills and see if they would like to partner with one of the entities in their jurisdiction to do this,” Castello said.

Contact Joyce Chu at [email protected] or follow @joyce_speaks on X, formerly known as Twitter.