Goodman Community Center

Our Thanksgiving Basket Drive is back! Help us provide Thanksgiving groceries for 4,000 Dane County families, or register for a basket yourself.

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The Goodman Center has been here for our community for 70 years, and with you in our corner, we'll be around for another 70 (and then some!). We serve people ages 3 to 103 with our children and youth programs, older adult activities and meals, food pantry, fitness center, event spaces and more. Take a look around and see what we're all about, and then get in touch. We'd love to hear from you!

This LIT Just Got Serious! Film Screening & Symposium

How is Madison tackling its literacy crisis? Join *START Literacy Initiative and local literacy organizations and professionals for a FREE meal, movie, and discussion on our current progress and future in reading education.

Learn more and register

The State of Food Insecurity in Dane County: Letter to Community

36 community pantries have spoken: they need our help. Read their joint letter and get involved today.

Read the Letter

Older Adults

Check out what's happening with our Older Adult Program.

Food Pantry

Our pantry is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Children & Teens

Learn more about summer at the Goodman Center for kids ages 3-19.

Eastside News Cover Story

August Halbach

Turning the page to boost literacy

To combat a literacy crisis, Goodman creates the *START Literacy Initiative

By August Halbach, GCC digital marketing specialist

To combat low literacy rates, Goodman Community Center created the *START Literacy Initiative, which stands for science of reading, trainings, activities, residencies and tutoring. It is a literacy initiative — not just a tutoring program or reading curriculum. It’s an example of modern community organizing around reading, something the NAACP called in 2022 “one of the largest civil rights issues of our time.”

Beginning with youth in GCC’s elementary after-school program, *START Literacy Initiative builds confidence and skills in some of the youngest readers. Bubbling beneath the surface is the program’s true purpose: Building an intricate web of tutors and resources that support students, schools, families and the tutors themselves.

Charitable Giving Guide

There are a multitude of ways to give to nonprofits like the Goodman Community Center – so many it can be hard to keep them all straight! We've created a handy Charitable Giving Guide that you can print and keep in your records for a quick reference when you're considering the best way to give.

Download the Guide