Give the Gift of Hope and Home

This holiday season give the gift of hope, shelter, warmth, support, food and independent futures by making a donation to the Goodwill Inn Homeless Shelter.

Don't know what to give the person who has everything? Make a gift on their behalf to the Inn and we will send them a card announcing your special gift in their honor.

Your support means that when every door seems closed the Goodwill Inn Homeless Shelter’s door is open to welcome our homeless neighbors in their time of need. What does the shelter mean to our guests?

Ahmad A is a 24 year old with a beautiful 9 month old son. Miss planning and indecisiveness with growing depression lead Ahmad down a path with no job...living in a unsafe environment with no electricity, and little to no access to his precious son. Today he has a family room at the Inn, has his son 3 - 4 days a week and is excited to be working 30 - 36 hours a week. Ahmad says "The Inn took me in and helped show me what I could be, in a manageable way. They treat me with respect, integrity and high regard. I feel empowered and worthy. I have the opportunity to have and care for my son that I would not have had."
Ahmad is one of a growing number of homeless single father families.

Jim L came to the Inn after spending 3 months homeless in Northern Michigan. With substance abuse challenges the Inn was not the easiest place to turn, due to the zero tolerance policy. But an effort he was willing to make; he was sick and tired of being sick and tired. Today he is sober and more likely to be tired from looking for a job and volunteering. Jim says "I don't know where I would be without the Inn and I would hate to find out. Through the classes and support services I have taken a better look at myself and am trying to make my life better. I never really volunteered until I came here. When I am not looking for work, I volunteer for different things and help out at the shelter. It feels good to help out where I can. I meet new people, have a sense of purpose and feel like I'm part of the community."

Herbert G's has called Northern Michigan home for 15 years. The loss of his job, a fifteen year old non-violent felony (first and last brush with the law) has made it harder to find a job in this competitive market, and no family in the area brought him to the Inn. Herbert says "I don't know what I would do without the staff. They don't treat me like a case number or another face, but a human being. They really care. I participate in all of the classes, goals group, budgeting, vocational, housing and others. They are very informative and they give me perspective…a sense of what needs to be done. They put a method to the madness. I feel appreciative of the Inn and staff, there may be a lot of rules but they keep me focused. I am afraid to think of where I would or would not be if the shelter was not here."

Click here to download our annual letter and pledge card or donate on-line now.

In the past 12 months the Inn provided 29,212 bednights to 714 mothers, father, sisters, brother, sons and daughters. Nightly an average of 80 individuals and families call the Inn home. For more information on the Goodwill Inn Homeless Shelter click here.

Tax Advantages of Giving to the Goodwill Inn Homeless Shelter

Whether you contribute as an individual or as a business, your donation to the Goodwill Inn may make you eligible for tax credits and deductions that significantly reduce the actual cost of your gift.

The Goodwill Inn is a designated Homeless Shelter and donors may be eligible for the Michigan Tax Credit. You may be able to reduce Michigan income tax by a credit of 50 percent of the amount contributed to the Goodwill Inn.

Individual Donors are subject to a maximum credit of:
$100 for an individual filing singly (based on a $200 donation)
$200 for a married couple filing jointly (based on a $400 donation)
Federal tax advantages may also be available depending on your individual or business tax situation.

Please consult your tax adviser for information about how your gift affects your unique situation.