As nationwide unemployment reaches a 3-year high, local nonprofits and resources are offering help for employers and jobseekers.

The first part of the plaza, Market on Melrose, is set to open at the end of this year.

Melrose Plaza is calling for artists to submit their mural ideas.

Changes are coming to Roanoke’s Melrose Plaza as community leaders are breaking ground on a new building.

Goodwill Industries of the Valley has been working on bringing a full-scale grocery store to a Northwest Roanoke community.

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is hosting an event for people of all ages.

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys celebrated the opening of their brand new mission center Tuesday.

Leaders at the nonprofit Goodwill say they are seeing a major need for resources to help people in the Commonwealth.

In about a month, the Virginia Department of Corrections will release 4,500 people across the Commonwealth for those who served time for minor offenses.

A marble bust that a Texas woman bought for about $35 from a Goodwill store is temporarily on display at a San Antonio museum after experts determined it was a centuries-old sculpture missing from Germany since World War II.

An open house and ribbon-cutting were held Monday for the new donation and employment services center on East Main Street.

First Baptist Church of Lexington looks more like Goodwill these days as piles of pants, shoes and jackets cover tabletops, chairs, pews, and floors.

The Build Smart Institute is teaming up with Goodwill, Habitat for humanity, and Reach Virginia Career Works for the YouthBuild Program.

Know anyone between the ages of 16 and 21 who is looking for a summer job? Goodwill wants to lend a helping hand.

Goodwill employee returns $42,000 back to its owner after finding the cash in a pile of donated sweatersNORMAN, Okla. – When you clock into a shift at work, you don’t usually expect to find tens of thousands of dollars, but one Oklahoma Goodwill employee got the surprise of a lifetime. Andrea was sorting through a pile of donated clothing when she discovered something odd wrapped inside of a sweater, said Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma in a Facebook post. Lo and behold, the Goodwill employee found stacks of cash, totaling $42,000. Upon meeting and returning the money to the owner, he kindly let Andrea keep $1,000 for herself as a reward. AdShe told Goodwill officials that she plans to use some of that money to give her daughter a wonderful birthday.

ROANOKE, Va – A non-profit in Southwest Virginia received $10 million to help get people back to work. The massive donation by author and philanthropist Mackenzie Scott is the largest donation Goodwill Industries of the Valleys has ever received. As millions of Americans struggle with unemployment, Goodwill staff said the money is more important now than ever before. Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is headquartered in Roanoke but covers as far north as Rockingham County, down to the North Carolina border. In the past four months, Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has given away more than $4 billion.

DANVILLE, Va. – For the first time, Goodwill is partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters to start a youth mentorship program in Danville. The organization is looking to train 25 mentors to help advise teenagers for four hours a month. After months of conversations, Goodwill wanted to expand its services to the youth and officially kicked off the program at the end of November. Goodwill Senior Director of Program Services Stephanie Hoer said when children participate in the program, they see a spike in graduation completion. “We’ve seen improvement in peer relationships and family relationships.”Mentor applications are available if you are over the age of 25.

ROANOKE, Va. – The longtime leader of the local Goodwill district is calling it a career. Bruce Phipps is retiring after 18 years as president of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. Phipps has worked for Goodwill for nearly 50 years. During his tenure in Roanoke, Goodwill converted an old K-Mart into its local headquarters and helped more than 30,000 people with job skills training. Phipps will remain president until next April while the company searches for a new leader.

ROANOKE, Va. – Some local Goodwill stores are living up to the name by trying to help protect doctors and nurses against the coronavirus. Stores in Carilion Clinic’s primary service area are now collecting personal protective equipment. Goodwill is working with other local hospital systems to come up with collection plans for them as well. Large cardboard donation boxes will be available outside stores when the stores are open. When stores are not open, the items can be placed in Goodwill collection bins.

ROANOKE, Va. – While Goodwill stores have closed their doors for shopping, they are open for accepting donations. To ensure workers safety, Goodwill is taking precautions, such as sanitizing and having employees wear gloves while dealing with donations. They’re also offering “no contact” donating where you can stay in your car while dropping off items. Despite not being open as normal, donations are still critical. Sandridge said they have also launched virtual services on their website.

SALEM, Va. – A local Goodwill store is taking action in response to privacy concerns over a security camera. Someone recently noticed a security camera in the Lakeside Drive store in Salem was visible from inside the dressing rooms. The store immediately began the process of removing the camera, but someone posted about it on Facebook -- increasing public concern. Local Goodwill vice president of external affairs, Kelly Sandridge, said the camera was never pointed at the dressing rooms. "We just want our customers to know anytime they have a concern in a Goodwill store, please let us know.

If you want to go all out but don't want to drain the bank, head to GoodwillCopyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

Purple Heart award found at Goodwill returned to family. A day to honor a military hero -- Wednesday is National Purple Heart Day. The Purple Heart is America's oldest decoration for military merit. Today, the Purple Heart bears his image and the Washington family crest. Six soldiers earned the Purple Heart during the Revolutionary War.

ROANOKE, Va. - People in northwest Roanoke now have an updated space to access books, online resources and more. City leaders held a grand opening ceremony Monday for the new Melrose Branch Library, which is located next door to Goodwill. Were doing some great things especially with reading and preparing our young people to go to even greater heights -- and for the adults. In the library, there are all-new computers, a new lab with many different educational tools and space to host other programs. There are also plans to serve meals to children at the library.