Proceeds from sale of local donations fund employment and training services
For the first time in its history, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont received over one million donor visits in 2013, marking a 2% increase from the previous year. The community contributed 389,000 pounds – or a staggering 195 tons – of donated items on December 31 alone.
A surge on the last day saw 11,122 donors scramble to 33 donation sites throughout the Southern Piedmont, bringing their gently used clothing, household items, electronics and toys. “We normally see high donor activity the final weekend of the year. This year was no different,” states Goodwill President and CEO Michael Elder. “Weather and the Panther’s game probably had an impact on donor numbers Sunday.” During the last five days of 2013 (Friday, 12/27 to Tuesday 12/31), over 31,500 donors visited Goodwill donation sites across the region.
“What is most exciting about this milestone for us is that it points to the tremendous support of our donor base. The simple act of donating items one can no longer use is what fuels our mission of changing lives through the power of work,” said Angela Amos, Director of Marketing & Communications. In 2013, Goodwill used the revenue earned from the sale of donated goods to provide job training, job placement and job creation resources and programs to more than 14,800 people. “It’s plain to see that if we each do a little, together we can accomplish a lot.”
