Filed under: Back to School, Career Services, General, Retail and Donations, Success Stories | Tags: Academic term, Back to School, Central North Carolina, Donation, Goodwill Industries, Piedmont, Student, Triad, United States
As summer draws to a close, everyone is evaluating what they or their kids will need for this school year and heading to stores to purchase clothes, supplies, computers and more. And this year, people will take a careful look at what they already have before buying new items, according to the National Retail Federation 2011 Back-to-School survey conducted by BIGresearch. The administrators of the survey also found that “by shopping around at a variety of retailers before deciding where to buy, parents will be able to find the best values on the items they really need this year.”
At Triad Goodwill we couldn’t agree more. We know that families and individuals are still feeling the effects of a tough economy. Parents are being careful with their dollars and college students are doing their best to stretch their budgets. The National Retail Federation estimates that parents will spend an average of $603.63 on apparel, school supplies and electronics — just a few dollars off last year’s $606.40 average. In addition to being frugal, Triad Goodwill believes there’s another important lesson to learn this back-to-school season: caring for the community and our planet.
When families donate the things they don’t need or shop at Goodwill, people make the connection that their used items can help people in the community. Revenues from the sale of donated goods benefit Goodwill’s job training programs and support services, including financial education and computer training. Such programs allow people with disabilities, those who lack education or job experience and others facing challenges to finding employment the chance to obtain vocational training in order to find and keep good jobs. These jobs include such industries as computer programming, health care, green construction and other emerging fields. For a look at some success stories of people who have completed Triad Goodwill’s job training programs, click here.
By supporting Triad Goodwill this back-to-school season, college students and kids alike can expand their worldview and become more aware of the needs of others. The simple act of donating the things they no longer need is an act of charity that does not cost
any money and in which people of all ages can participate. Not only does donating to Goodwill help others, it also conserves the planet by diverting billions of donated goods from landfills.
Parents can teach their children the difference between the things you recycle and the things you donate to Goodwill, by playing the Donation Match Game at donate.goodwill.org/kids. Children receive a certificate upon finishing the game and can work with their families to find more items around the house to donate.
As everyone reviews their back-to-school budgets, we ask them to remember Triad Goodwill, not just as a shopping and donation destination, but also as an opportunity to teach a lesson of compassion that they can carry with them their entire lives.
Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Inc. promotes the value of work by providing career development services and work opportunities for people with employment needs.
Filed under: Career Services, Fashion, General, Retail and Donations, Spring Cleaning | Tags: Clothing, Donation, Gap (clothing retailer), Goodwill Industries, Memorial Day, North Carolina
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Gap Invites Customers to Donate Clothing to Help Support Job Training Programs and Get Rewarded with 30% off Summer Shopping
GREENSBORO, NC – Gap and Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Inc. have announced a partnership encouraging consumers to clean out their closets for a cause. From May 19-29, Gap stores in the United States and Canada will accept clothing donations in support of the Donate Movement, an effort powered by Goodwill to educate the public on the positive impacts donations can have on both people and the planet.
When consumers donate clothing to Gap stores during this time period, their donations will be given to Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Inc. and then sold in Goodwill’s 17 Triad stores. To thank customers for their generous donations, donors will receive 30-percent off their entire Gap purchase, including regularly priced and sale items, just in time for Memorial Day shopping.
Donations to Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Inc. support the organization’s mission of providing job training programs and employment placement services to the people who need them most. Goodwill sells donated goods in its stores and uses 84 percent of the revenues generated to fund job training programs across the United States and Canada. Here in the Triad, Goodwill uses 87 percent.
“As a company, we invest in career exploration and job readiness for youth, and thousands of our employees volunteer to help young people prepare for the workforce. Giving our customers and employees opportunities to donate clothing in support of Goodwill’s job training programs is a great fit with our community efforts,” said Bobbi Silten, head of global responsibility and president of Gap Foundation.
Donating to Goodwill also has a positive impact on the planet. Goodwill helps communities extend the life of usable items in environmentally sound ways, and diverts clothing items from local landfills.
“Through the Donate Movement, Goodwill aims to increase conscious donations by raising consumer awareness of the power their donated goods can have in strengthening their communities,” said Rick Gorham, President/CEO. “When you donate to Goodwill, you enable a person to receive vital skills training, succeed at work and climb the career leader. These are people who want to work but need Goodwill’s help to find and keep good jobs.”
To learn more about the Donate Movement and calculate the positive impact donations will have on people in the community, visit www.donate.goodwill.org.
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF CENTRAL NC
Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Inc. promotes the value of work through the provision of work opportunities for people with special employment needs. Last year Goodwill served almost 10,000 people in the community and helped place over 1,600 into competitive employment. Almost 87 cents of every dollar earned at our 17 retail stores goes into job training for residents of the Triad. For more information about Goodwill visit www.TriadGoodwill.org.
ABOUT GAP, INC.
Gap Inc. is a leading global specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, children, and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, and Athleta brands. Fiscal year 2010 net sales were $14.7 billion. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase in over 90 countries worldwide through about 3,100 company-operated stores, about 175 franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com/socialresponsibility.
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Filed under: Career Services, General, Retail and Donations, Spring Cleaning | Tags: books, Clothing, computers, declutter, Donation, Goodwill Industries, housewares, Mobile phone, Tax deduction
| Spring presents the perfect time to take a fresh look at the items in your home and decide what should stay and what should go. As you de-clutter your home, Goodwill Industries® can put your unwanted items to good use. When you donate your gently used clothing, housewares and electronics, you are helping Goodwill® provide job training, education programs and community- based services to people in local communities every year. Here are the top five things that people don’t think to donate.
1. Computers: Through a partnership with Dell, many Goodwill locations now accept computers to be recycled for free, regardless of whether they are in working condition. You can also pack up an old laptop or netbook as well as accessories such as mice and printers and donate them to Goodwill. Through the Dell Reconnect program, Goodwill and Dell offer consumers a way to dispose of computers and accessories in an environmentally responsible way while receiving a tax deduction at the same time. Visit http://reconnectpartnership.com to learn more. 2. Cell phones: It’s time to dig out the old cell phones you have hidden away. If you’ve ever upgraded to a new cell phone, it’s likely you have an old one somewhere at home. Goodwill agencies are working with partners to collect and recycle these phones and keep them out of landfills. 3. Books: If you’ve already read a book and have no plans to read it again, donate it to Goodwill. Donating books frees valuable shelf space and makes room for new ones. Check your children’s rooms for outgrown kid’s books or your kitchen for cookbooks you haven’t consulted in the last year. 4. Clothing: You can let go of the jeans that never quite fit or that sweater that wasn’t quite your style. Goodwill agencies gladly accept donations of gently used clothing. As you’re cleaning out your closet, put clothing donations in a pile and, when you’re finished, bring them to your nearest Goodwill donation center. When you’re finished going through your closet, that pile might be bigger than you bargained for! 5. Housewares: Sometimes we inherit household items from others or receive them as gifts. If you have a second toaster, vacuum cleaner or blender that you don’t need, donate it to Goodwill. More than 66 million donors have given their gently used items to Goodwill, helping their neighbors build careers and make positive contributions to their communities. Last year, Goodwill served more than 2 million people; including people with disabilities, those who lack education or work experience and others facing challenges to finding employment. Goodwill also started the Donate Movement to highlight the positive effects donating has on both people and the planet. Please remember that not all Goodwill stores accept all items. Visit TriadGoodwill.org/Donations for a full list of items that Goodwill’s in Guilford, Alamance, Caswell, Rockingham and Randolph counties gladly accept. |
Filed under: General, Retail and Donations, Spring Cleaning | Tags: Cleanliness, donate, Donation, Goodwill Industries, Hanes, New Year, Retailing, Shopping, spring cleaning, Triad Goodwill
So it’s March and time to resurface from the cold and dark winter, draw open the curtains and put a spring shine on things. For those with pets, this can mean collecting 4 months of hair and dander from every surface of the house since Fido or Fluffy became primarily an indoor pet in November! It’s also time to make your annual pilgrimage to your basement or attic with all your clothing and household items your rotating out for the new season. Yes, “Out with the Old and in with the New” is never more true than at this time of year and the cool thing about Goodwill is that we offer a solution to do both! This year, the pleasure you feel after your work is done can triple, because not only are all your donations tax-deductible, but you can also pick up that first spring ensemble or that perfect vase for the kitchen table – items we get everyday at our retail stores.
During spring cleaning is always a great time to visit a Goodwill, and this year Triad Goodwill partners with Hanes and Levi’s in the Donate Movement! Hanes and Levi’s is helping Goodwill spread the story of our mission and to learn the difference your donations make, for the environment and for our communities. When people think twice about what they donate, where they donate and how their donations affect others – and when they donate to reputable organizations – that can have a powerful impact on our world. Triad Goodwill for almost 50 years has used donations to put people to work and your goodwill does make a difference. See donation tips here.
Join the Donate Movement and Clean Out Your Drawers for Goodwill and Hanes this spring! Plus see some great tips to get you started–
#1 Peace of Mind–Stop hoarding and feel, cool, calm and comfortable.
#2 It’s a Time Saver–It’s not functional to sift through mountains of clothing when you could be doing something else.
#3 Value–Spend your money of something you don’t have 15 pairs of already
See more tips from Hanes spokesperson Bethenny Frankel…and Happy Cleaning!
Filed under: General, Retail and Donations | Tags: Donation, Goodwill Industries, Internal Revenue Service, North Carolina, Tax deduction
Donations accepted before 8 p.m., Friday, December 31, 2010 at all local Goodwill donation sites
GREENSBORO, NC – The holiday season leave your wallet a bit lighter? You can get a little money back from Uncle Sam by donating gently used clothing and other unwanted items to Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina for an end-of-year tax deduction.
By cleaning your closets and garages, you get more than a write-off. Goodwill uses the revenue from your donations for its job training programs, employment placement services and other community based programs for people with disabilities, those who lack education and work experience and others facing challenges to finding employment. Goodwill channels 87 percent of its revenues directly into its services.
“End the holiday season and start the new year off right by making an investment in your local community,” says Rick Gorham, President/CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina. “Every donation to Goodwill will help make 2011 a better year for thousands of local individuals who need job training, career services and other community-based programs.”
Goodwill accepts clothing, household items, computers, and even those holiday gifts that weren’t quite right. Donations are sold in our 17 retail stores in Guilford, Alamance, Caswell, Randolph, and Rockingham counties. Triad Goodwill donation sites will be accepting items until 8 p.m. on Friday, December 31, 2010 for end-of-year deductions.
Donors interested in claiming tax deductions should keep itemized lists of their donations. The Internal Revenue Service allows a deduction for each item, but the donor determines each item’s value. Generally, an item’s value should be based on fair market value – what the item would sell for in a thrift store. Goodwill provides receipts to donors at its drop-off sites. For general guidelines, visit Goodwill Industries International’s valuation guide and www.irs.gov
To find the nearest Triad Goodwill donation site, visit www.triadgoodwill.org/goodwill_donations.html
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF CENTRAL NC
Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Inc. promotes the value of work through the provision of work opportunities for people with special employment needs. Last year Goodwill served almost 10,000 people in the community and helped place over 1,600 into competitive employment. Almost 87 cents of every dollar earned at our 17 retail stores goes into job training for residents of the Triad. For more information about Goodwill visit www.TriadGoodwill.org.
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