I know I never post on Wednesday evenings, but I just got an email letting me know that Goodwill has launched a new site with a neat calculator that shows you just what your old jeans and t-shirts can accomplish in your community. They’re doing this to help encourage people to donate their items to Goodwill instead of throwing them away.
Now, I’m sure that most of my dear readers are faithful thrift shop donators, but this is not the case with the population at large.
In an article on Huffington Post, Goodwill CEO Jim Gibbons says,
It might sound surprising that we need to have initiatives like this, but seven out of 10 consumers admit that sometimes, they choose not to donate and simply discard their items. Not only that, but for every one article of clothing donated, people have at least 30 more articles of clothing that are ready to be donated.
So, people are keeping clutter around and are sometimes throwing stuff away when they do declutter.
Dear me. While I’m certainly of the opinion that some things really do need to be thrown away, I firmly believe that usable items should be donated instead. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and so your clutter could be just what someone else wanted or needed. This is earth-friendly in two ways…your old items don’t end up in the landfill, and the new owner of the item doesn’t have to buy a newly-manufactured item encased in plastic packaging!
Donating to Goodwill is super easy…honestly, it’s only a small bit harder than throwing something away, and when you donate, your items will be used by someone else and they’ll also support people in your community that need help.
Of course, Goodwill is not the only responsible repository for your used items…I sometimes sell things at consignment shops and I frequently offer things on Freecycle when I declutter (I particularly love the way Freecycle ensures that my items go straight to someone who needs/wants them).
But if you’re looking for a super-simple way to get rid of your stuff, Goodwill is the way to go…just bag your stuff up and drop it off.
And of course, you can also support Goodwill’s mission by shopping in their stores. I used to be unconvinced, but there’s great stuff to be had at Goodwill if you’re willing to look for it.
Anyhow…go try out the calculator and see what your “junk” can accomplish for people in your community. It just might motivate you to drop your clutter at Goodwill instead of in the trash can.
Hanna
Friday 2nd of August 2019
FYI Vincent de Paul in my area has several monthly FREE give aways of food, clothing and household. It is truly amazing - you can take what you need, no questions asked - it has helped my family and shown my kids the value of charity.
Now back to Greedwell aka Goodwill - I am a former employee. And working minimum wage, single mom, even with employee discount cannot afford their regular prices. Some of the sales you get a good deal but honestly, they are about the same prices as an outlet or clearance rack, and that's new.
Every Goodwill is managed differently so this only applies to the store I formerly worked at.
The store receives funding from tax payer dollars, through the county, to hire disabled workers. Even though they have challenges the workers do the same jobs, same expectations and work just as hard as anybody else. They don't get job coaching or help to address their issues. It's sad because there are employees who could do really well and get a better job if they were given some more training, and mentorship to address their needs. There was an employee with poor boundaries, who would say inappropriate things, even to the public. The manager would laugh and walk away. That person just needed someone to take the time to help them improve their communication...instead they were left struggling.
Goodwill will give the disabled workers a minimum wage job but not a living wage job or a career. These workers are the backbone of the store - they deserve better. Goodwill is ok for a temporary or as needed basis but the real measure of success should be leaving the program for something better. Many of these employees, myself included, rely on welfare to supplement our income.
The reason I left Goodwill is because the managers made profit more of a priority over customer service and often misused donations. I started the job wanting to be part of an org that helps people and within few months saw just the opposite.
In my store, we throw away or "salvage" at least 80% of donated goods. Salvage means sent to outlet or recycled. My job was to pick through donations looking for items that make the most money, and send them to auction. I don't have a number for the piles and piles of usable goods that are thrown out or salvaged. The managers keep track of auction profits...if you fall below a crisi happens, which means less attention is given to the store/customers and there is a mad rush to find things for auction (that srll for more money than the store).
I got to know the customers and really enjoyed working with the public. It was fun to watch them find a treasure or something that brought back memories ... I personally had a problem with 1) throwing away so much 2) neglecting the store to find more auctionable items.
I found another job .. and feel I finally am making a positive contribution.
Marjorie Soural
Sunday 20th of July 2014
I would like to start by saying that not all of the stores are as bad as the one I encountered today July 20, 2014. My husband and I were donating some furniture at out local Goodwill thinking it was a responsible decision on our parts. While unloading a woman ask us if she could have a chair we had not yet taken off of our trailer and we were more than happy to give it to her. Unfortunately the people of Goodwill were vehement about it being their property after my husband loaded it on the ladies truck. Not really sure of what to think or how to respond I got back into my car feeling very sorry for the woman and wondering how exactly does a situation like this get explained to those of us who are thinking we are helping others out while the people in this store were only thinking about their profits? I have resigned myself to the facts that when and if I ever have things to donate again, I will certainly not be dropping them off at my local Goodwill.
Claudia Phillips
Monday 21st of April 2014
Goodwill has made it so easy to donate to them. Do you know why? They are a successful FOR PROFIT company and their top executives get VERY large salaries. In some states they use very old laws that actually permit them to pay handicapped employees less than minimum wage. Think about this: Goodwill gets all their inventory for FREE and sells it for a profit. They are not helping the needy so much as helping themselves. Now I donate all my things to a small local thrift store that will give items for free if they come across a truly needy family.
Mike Wallace
Thursday 17th of April 2014
Goodwill is a company that takes donations and uses it for corporate greed. They don't make a profit because the EXECS make six figure salaries while they pay handicapped people pennies on the dollar. Goodwill makes me sick and I would rather throw something out than give it to these crooks.
Claudia Phillips
Tuesday 31st of December 2013
Don't give to Goodwill! Execs make 6 figure salaries, but they pay workers LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE. How do they do that? A 1938 law called the Special Wage Certificate Program allows them to pay handicapped workers according the their abilities with no minimum. They have non-profit status with the IRS, but are they really doing any good? I don't think so. Since I found out about this, I've been donating my goods to a local thrift shop.