Goodwill Industries of Mid-Michigan, Inc. has a proud history dating back to 1932. The minister of Oak Park Methodist Church in Flint, called upon the Reverend John Martin of Detroit, to help establish an agency devoted to serving the needs of people with disabilities. Thus, Goodwill in Flint was founded.

However, Goodwill had already proved successful in Boston. In 1902, Edgar James Helms, a Methodist Minister, wanted to help people in the community who were not able to support their families. So, he conceived the idea of collecting unwanted household goods and hiring unemployed residents to repair and refurbish the items for resale. Income from the resold goods paid the workers' wages. The system worked, and the Goodwill method of self-help was born.

Today, Goodwill Industries serves people who face a variety of barriers to employment, including physical or mental disabilities, illiteracy, substance abuse, inadequate education, ex-felons, and welfare dependency. The ultimate goal is to place individuals in productive employment.