Youth Services

Since 2009, the Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries Youth Services Mission has been a pillar of support and guidance for young people in our community. Our mission is simple yet powerful: we strengthen communities by helping individuals overcome barriers to employment, offering work opportunities and skills development, and leading environmental sustainability. Our Program is CARF-Accredited each year. CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services.

We accomplish this for our youth population through a variety of services including Youth Mentoring, Student-Athlete Program, and Youth Employment and Career Navigation.

At the core of our mission is one powerful relationship: a trusted adult mentor and a young person who needs encouragement, guidance, and someone to believe in them. Our program thoughtfully matches caring mentors with youth ages 12 to 18, forming bonds that are often life-changing for both the mentor and the mentee. These relationships often extend beyond high school as participants navigate college, military service, or the workforce.

Mentors meet with their mentees regularly, engaging in meaningful conversations, community outings, health and wellness activities, STEM programming, school support, and shared goal-setting. These consistent, supportive relationships help young people navigate life’s challenges, build confidence, and discover their strengths. Whether it’s helping with homework, exploring career paths, or just showing up to listen, our mentors create a safe space for growth and self-discovery.

Many of our youth come from environments where stable, one-on-one attention is rare. Through mentorship, they gain resilience, learn to make healthy decisions, and begin to believe in a future full of possibility. It’s this one-to-one connection that makes all the difference, and it’s why mentorship remains the foundation of everything we do.

Athletics are more than just games; they’re powerful tools for teaching discipline, perseverance, and teamwork. Our Youth Services Program includes a robust competitive sports component, offering youth the chance to participate on an organized traveling basketball team. For many of our participants, this is their first opportunity to experience the camaraderie of a team, the pride of hard work, and the joy of achieving a shared goal. Through sports, our youth learn how to handle wins with grace, losses with resilience, and challenges with determination. These lessons carry over into the classroom, the workplace, and life.

Throughout the year, we host vibrant cultural celebrations like our Black History Month and Juneteenth events, where youth explore heritage, history, and identity through art, performance, and education. These events create space for reflection, dialogue, and community unity.

We also serve those in need through micro-pantry food preparation and distribution, teaching our youth the value of giving back. These hands-on service activities help instill empathy and social responsibility while meeting real needs in our neighborhoods.

Each Fall, our Back-to-School Events provide hundreds of local students with free backpacks, notebooks, and supplies, ensuring they start the year confident and ready to learn. During the holiday season, our Community Thanksgiving Dinner brings together over 200 attendees in a spirit of gratitude and generosity, with youth and their families receiving a full basket including ham and turkey to take home. Our Christmas Breakfast Celebration adds warmth and joy to the season by ensuring each student has a gift to open, provided in partnership with the Tree of Wishes program.

Also, we prioritize future planning through Youth Summits and Career Days, connecting participants with community leaders, college advisors, and local organizations offering support in education, employment, and wellness.

To support academic growth and career readiness, we maintain a Private Computer Lab open to all youth and their families. This vital space is used for tutoring sessions, presentations, job applications, college essays, and scholarship submissions, equipping our youth with the tools and access they need to succeed.

Every event, every initiative, and every resource reflects our commitment to creating a network of care around our young people, and your support helps make this possible.

In addition to mentorship, sports, enrichment, and community events, our Youth Services Area offers a variety of structured programs and resources that meet the daily needs of our participants. These activities foster learning, connection, and personal development.