Rome and Woodstock events distributed backpacks and connected parents with employment resources ahead of the new school year.

Goodwill of North Georgia wrapped up its 2026 Back-to-School Bash series this month, hosting two community events that gave students free backpacks and school supplies while connecting their parents with jobs, hiring partners, and community resources across North Georgia.

The third annual Rome Back-to-School Bash was held on July 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the YMCA in Rome (810 E. 2nd Ave.), followed by the third annual Woodstock Back-to-School Bash on July 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Woodstock Career Center. Both events offered families free backpacks, school supplies, refreshments, and fun activities, alongside onsite hiring opportunities from major regional employers.

“Back-to-school season can be a stressful time for many families, especially those facing financial challenges,” said Trenise Lyons, Director of Communications & Customer Engagement at Goodwill of North Georgia. “Our Back-to-School Bashes helped ease that burden for families across North Georgia this summer. Kids left with backpacks and supplies, and parents left with job leads, resources, and support systems that help them build stable futures for their families. That’s our mission to put people to work in action.”

Rome Back-to-School Bash

The Rome event brought together community partners including AdventHealth, Amerigroup RealSolutions, Georgia DFCS, the local Sheriff’s Office, Northwest Georgia Hunger Ministries, the YMCA, and other nonprofits committed to strengthening North Georgia communities.

Onsite employers included 2 Work Staffing, Nots Logistics, Hilman Group, Zaxby’s, Service Masters by Twin, Floyd County Police Department, GA Power, Hayes State Prison, Center Parc Credit Union, Foundation Orthodontics, Reggie Perkins State Farm, and Teresa Lumsden State Farm.

Last year’s Rome Back-to-School Bash welcomed more than 800 attendees and distributed more than 500 backpacks, and this year’s event built on that momentum, reflecting growing community demand and Goodwill’s expanded capacity to serve more North Georgia families.

Since 2011, Goodwill of North Georgia has served more than 28,000 Floyd County job seekers and connected more than 11,000 residents to new jobs.

Woodstock Back-to-School Bash

The Woodstock event brought together community partners including Job Corps, the Firm Foundation Treatment Center, Help Someone Community Outreach Inc, Grand Canyon University, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, WorkSource Atlanta Regional, the Woodstock Police Department, and the Woodstock Fire Department. Goodwill of North Georgia recruiters were also onsite to hire within the organization.

The Bash built on the Woodstock Career Center’s growing community impact. In fiscal year 2026, the center hosted 30 hiring and resource fairs, served 1,469 job seekers, and placed 484 people into new jobs, with forklift certification as its top career training program. Building on that momentum, the center projects more than 40 hiring and resource fairs in the year ahead, giving local families more pathways to employment. The Woodstock Career Center has served the Cherokee County area and neighboring communities since 2002. 

Continuing a Century-Long Mission

Through events like the Back-to-School Bashes, Goodwill of North Georgia connected families with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed. Its free career coaching, job training, and employment placement services are available year-round through the organization’s network of 14 career centers and a mobile unit, serving 45 counties.

Last year, the organization celebrated a century of service to North Georgia, including 24 years of serving Cherokee County residents and surrounding communities through the Woodstock Career Center. In its centennial year alone, Goodwill served more than 50,000 job seekers and connected more than 24,000 of them to new jobs.

For seven consecutive years, Goodwill of North Georgia has been recognized as the #1 Goodwill in the nation for placing job seekers in meaningful employment.

About Goodwill of North Georgia

Goodwill of North Georgia is a nonprofit organization that has served the Atlanta metro area and surrounding communities for more than 100 years. Through free career coaching, job training, and employment placement services offered at the organization’s 14 career centers and mobile unit across 45 counties throughout north Georgia, the organization has been recognized as the #1 Goodwill in the nation for placing job seekers in meaningful employment for seven consecutive years. For more information, visit www.goodwillng.org.

Goodwill of North Georgia Back-to-School Bashes Delivered Free Supplies and Job Opportunities to Families Across the State

Rome and Woodstock events distributed backpacks and connected parents with employment resources ahead of the new school year.

Goodwill of North Georgia wrapped up its 2026 Back-to-School Bash series this month, hosting two community events that gave students free backpacks and school supplies while connecting their parents with jobs, hiring partners, and community resources across North Georgia.

The third annual Rome Back-to-School Bash was held on July 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the YMCA in Rome (810 E. 2nd Ave.), followed by the third annual Woodstock Back-to-School Bash on July 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Woodstock Career Center. Both events offered families free backpacks, school supplies, refreshments, and fun activities, alongside onsite hiring opportunities from major regional employers.

“Back-to-school season can be a stressful time for many families, especially those facing financial challenges,” said Trenise Lyons, Director of Communications & Customer Engagement at Goodwill of North Georgia. “Our Back-to-School Bashes helped ease that burden for families across North Georgia this summer. Kids left with backpacks and supplies, and parents left with job leads, resources, and support systems that help them build stable futures for their families. That’s our mission to put people to work in action.”

Rome Back-to-School Bash

The Rome event brought together community partners including AdventHealth, Amerigroup RealSolutions, Georgia DFCS, the local Sheriff’s Office, Northwest Georgia Hunger Ministries, the YMCA, and other nonprofits committed to strengthening North Georgia communities.

Onsite employers included 2 Work Staffing, Nots Logistics, Hilman Group, Zaxby’s, Service Masters by Twin, Floyd County Police Department, GA Power, Hayes State Prison, Center Parc Credit Union, Foundation Orthodontics, Reggie Perkins State Farm, and Teresa Lumsden State Farm.

Last year’s Rome Back-to-School Bash welcomed more than 800 attendees and distributed more than 500 backpacks, and this year’s event built on that momentum, reflecting growing community demand and Goodwill’s expanded capacity to serve more North Georgia families.

Since 2011, Goodwill of North Georgia has served more than 28,000 Floyd County job seekers and connected more than 11,000 residents to new jobs.

Woodstock Back-to-School Bash

The Woodstock event brought together community partners including Job Corps, the Firm Foundation Treatment Center, Help Someone Community Outreach Inc, Grand Canyon University, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, WorkSource Atlanta Regional, the Woodstock Police Department, and the Woodstock Fire Department. Goodwill of North Georgia recruiters were also onsite to hire within the organization.

The Bash built on the Woodstock Career Center’s growing community impact. In fiscal year 2026, the center hosted 30 hiring and resource fairs, served 1,469 job seekers, and placed 484 people into new jobs, with forklift certification as its top career training program. Building on that momentum, the center projects more than 40 hiring and resource fairs in the year ahead, giving local families more pathways to employment. The Woodstock Career Center has served the Cherokee County area and neighboring communities since 2002. 

Continuing a Century-Long Mission

Through events like the Back-to-School Bashes, Goodwill of North Georgia connected families with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed. Its free career coaching, job training, and employment placement services are available year-round through the organization’s network of 14 career centers and a mobile unit, serving 45 counties.

Last year, the organization celebrated a century of service to North Georgia, including 24 years of serving Cherokee County residents and surrounding communities through the Woodstock Career Center. In its centennial year alone, Goodwill served more than 50,000 job seekers and connected more than 24,000 of them to new jobs.

For seven consecutive years, Goodwill of North Georgia has been recognized as the #1 Goodwill in the nation for placing job seekers in meaningful employment.

About Goodwill of North Georgia

Goodwill of North Georgia is a nonprofit organization that has served the Atlanta metro area and surrounding communities for more than 100 years. Through free career coaching, job training, and employment placement services offered at the organization’s 14 career centers and mobile unit across 45 counties throughout north Georgia, the organization has been recognized as the #1 Goodwill in the nation for placing job seekers in meaningful employment for seven consecutive years. For more information, visit www.goodwillng.org.