By MAGDA HIRSH and JESSICA MILLAZO

We all have them: that computer gathering dust in the garage, the jeans that are just too tight (or better yet, too loose), the T-shirt that we got for free but never wear, books collecting dust. What do these items all have in common? They may be unwanted, but they surely can spread a lot of goodwill in our community.

And the way to go about it could not be simpler. They are all items that can be donated to one of the 41 Goodwill of Southern Nevada Attended Donation Centers and stores near you.

Through the cycle of giving, since 1975, Goodwill of Southern Nevada has been turning your gently used goods into jobs. But what exactly does that phrase mean and how does it impact our community?

"When you donate items to Goodwill, you give them a 'second life,' not only keeping them out of landfills, but also helping our agency to generate the revenue that funds job training and job placement for people and families in our community," said Steve Chartrand, president and CEO of Goodwill of Southern Nevada.

Chartrand and his team run Goodwill's social enterprise like clockwork. The process is immediate and organized; donated items are first sorted and then sold at one of Goodwill's eight retail stores, recycled or sold online on www.shopgoodwill.com.

According to Chartrand, "Goodwill finds a way to maximize the value of your donation. We generate as much revenue as possible out of each item to fund job training and job placement programs at no cost to our fellow Nevadans. When we joined other retailers in selling books and collectibles online several years ago, we saw immediate results, which encourage us to keep finding new revenue streams for donated goods."

It should be no surprise then that the agency has garnered the strong confidence of the local community. In 2011 alone, Goodwill received donations of gently used items from 478,253 individuals. By donating to Goodwill, local Nevadans have made it possible for Goodwill to keep more than 14 million pounds of reusable and recyclable materials out of landfills. But, the donations become much more impactful when you consider what the funds from the sale of those goods can buy.

What many people don't know is how big of an impact their donations and purchases make on our community.

Take Goodwill's Student Work Experience Program, for example, which operates in partnership the Clark County School District. The nonprofit provides a venue for teachers to follow each student's Individual Education Plan while exposing students to a realistic, yet supportive, work environment where students learn valuable life and work skills. Such opportunities are extremely rare, which explains why the program has grown from one school referring one class in 1997 to 28 schools referring 49 classes in 2011.

"Last year alone, the program made a difference in the lives of 500 youth with disabilities," Chartrand said. "The true impact, however, lasts a lifetime. From discovering future career goals to developing more confidence, it is very rewarding to see students build their self-esteem. It is amazing what we can all do when we chose to focus on their abilities, not on their 'dis-abilities.' "

Career Connections centers is yet another resource Goodwill provides. These centers give all job seekers access to skills training, vocational training, on-the-job training, job search tools, career advice, one-on-one counseling, job leads as well as essential supportive services, including bus passes, gas cards, interview clothing, work IDs, employment cards, child care assistance, industry-specific clothing and other items aiding job seekers in finding employment.

"Our organization takes a broader, more comprehensive approach, to helping people from all walks of life obtain and maintain economic independence," Chartrand explained. "For most working people, a job is only the first of many resources that are necessary to support themselves and their families. Occupational skills, supportive services, income assets, and financial education are all needed to achieve an increased quality of life. That's why we partner with United Way of Southern Nevada to provide free tax preparation assistance to income eligible families and provide emergency assistance they need to stand on their own two feet."

Indeed, the program has built a successful track record of working with people who face many barriers to finding employment, including low-income status, homelessness, single parenthood, veteran status, disabilities, language barriers, felony history and other barriers.

"Goodwill is proud that last year we were able to provide services to 8,511 individuals and to place 1,255 individuals into jobs through our Career Connections and Workforce Integration Programs" Chartrand said. "It is always our goal to follow the founder of Goodwill's motto of 'a hand up, and not a hand out.' By providing people with training and skill building, we know not only are we helping to solve the problem of unemployment in our state, but we are also improving the quality of life of individuals and the Southern Nevada community."

And, it's important to note, that all of Goodwill's services are available at no cost to job seekers in the community. That's right, individuals looking for work or to increase their skills can take advantage of career counseling, Internet job searches, workshops and much more - all at no cost. You can discover the details about all of Goodwill's programs by visiting www.sngoodwill.org or by calling 702-214-2025.

As Claire (the name altered for anonymity), who took advantage of these services put it, "Many, many thanks to all of you from this struggling single mom.  Although it's been a really rough year, Goodwill has helped me get back to work and put a roof back over our heads!"

After several weeks of a difficult situation, Claire relocated to Las Vegas in hopes of creating a fresh start. She focused her sights on Goodwill's Career Connections which tirelessly advocated on her behalf.

And Goodwill isn't just placing job seekers with more than 580 partner employer. It is creating new jobs within its own organization as well.

"We expect to create 50 new jobs this year" Chartrand said.

Goodwill currently has 500 full-time employees in the valley.

"All of us that work at Goodwill are continually inspired by the individuals we serve to keep growing and to keep providing services that will change lives in Southern Nevada, and we couldn't keep doing that without the support of the individuals who donate to us," Chartrand said.

The agency also expanded its fundraising in the past three years and receives the support of many corporations and foundations. Not many nonprofits can leverage donated goods and dollars as well as Goodwill does. The nonprofit's administrative costs were only 10 percent last year; 90 cents of every revenue dollar goes towards operations and mission services.

So if you're looking for a way to make an impact on your community, it's really pretty simple. All you need to do is clean out your closet and donate to Goodwill to change a life of another human being.

All of us can make a difference. You, too, can be part of cycle of giving.

Magda Hirsch is fundraising manager and Jessica Milazzo is manager of community affairs at Goodwill of Southern Nevada.