Edgar J Helms, the founder of Goodwill Industries, was born in Malone, NY, in January 1863. After completing his studies at Boston University Theological School, the Methodist Church assigned Helms and his wife to Morgan Chapel, an inner city mission in Boston's South End, which became in 1902, the birthplace of Goodwill Industries.    Since that time, the legacy of Reverend Helms has developed into in international organization comprised of 180 member agencies. For additional historical information of Goodwill Industries International please visit their web-site at www.goodwill.org

   Goodwill Industries of Pittsfield, now Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires, started in 1953 by Julie Parker, wife of a Berkshire Eagle columnist Charles K. Parker. A native of Japan, she came with her husband to New York from Japan in the first exchange of World War II prisoners in 1942.

   In the early 1950's, Mrs. Parker started collecting articles at her home in Pittsfield to send to Japan for war relief. Her cellar soon became over-loaded and, as a result, she contacted Goodwill Industries in Boston. In 1953, the first Goodwill store opened in Pittsfield on South Street as a satellite of Goodwill Boston assisted by Goodwill Industries of Springfield. Mrs. Parker managed a Goodwill store on North Street for many years, working right through her middle eighties. She was dubbed "Mrs. Goodwill" when celebrating her 80th birthday at the North St. store.

   In 1956, Goodwill Industries of Pittsfield, Inc. was born as a separate member agency of Goodwill Industries of America (later Goodwill Industries International ) with Berkshire County as its assigned territory. Later, the agency name was also changed to Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires, Inc. operating three retail stores in the county.

   In 1999, Goodwill purchased and moved its headquarters, employment training center and processing facilities into its present complex at 158 Tyler Street in Pittsfield, almost quadrupling its previous facility.

   In 2001, the five southern counties of Vermont, were added to the assigned territory of Goodwill Berkshires. Subsequently, in 2002 a retail store and employment training center was opened in Bennington, Vt. This was the first Goodwill presence ever placed in Vermont by any Goodwill agency.