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Goodwill’s tech store, The GRID, is turning 10 – and you’re invited to celebrate with us! We want to thank our loyal shoppers and donors for supporting the store over the past decade. On Friday, May 10, stop by The GRID’s flagship store, located at the Goodwill Opportunity Campus in west Charlotte, to celebrate this milestone anniversary with us.

FRIDAY, MAY 10

*Sale offered at all three locations – at the Goodwill Opportunity Campus, inside the Rockingham Goodwill, and inside the Shelby Goodwill on Friday, May 10.

MORE THAN A THRIFT STORE

GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY

Your donations and purchases do big things for our community! The money we make from selling donated items in our stores is what pays for the job training programs, job search support and family stability services that we offer completely free of charge to thousands of people in our community each year, including our very own team members.

GOOD FOR OUR PLANET

Goodwill works to solve the planet’s e-waste problem, the fastest growing waste problem in the world. We recycle and refurbish more than 1 million pounds of electronics each year. Electronics that are donated in working condition and items we’re able to refurbish are sold at our tech store, The GRID. Items that we can’t resell are recycled responsibly.

 

As many of you know, when you shop or donate at Goodwill, you do good for the community. That’s because the money we make from selling donated items in our stores is what funds the programs and services we offer to the community absolutely free of charge. These programs and services help people train for and find employment so that they can support themselves and their families. When families thrive, communities thrive.

But did you know when you shop or donate at Goodwill, you also do good for our planet? Here are just three ways Goodwill is good for the Earth:

  1. Goodwill stores play a big part in the circular economy, which is a system that keeps products in circulation for as long as possible. Goodwill helps communities extend the life of usable items, which reduces the amount of material sent to landfills or incinerators. Last year, we sold more than 17 million items, giving them a second chance.
  2. Goodwill works to solve the planet’s e-waste problem, the fastest growing waste problem in the world. We recycle and refurbish more than 1 million pounds of electronics each year. Electronics that are donated in working condition and items we’re able to refurbish are sold at our tech store, The GRID. Items that we can’t resell are recycled.
  3. Many people don’t realize the amount of limited natural resources it takes to produce everyday items. For example, did you know that it takes 1,800 gallons of water to grow enough cotton to make just one pair of jeans? That’s crazy! When you donate clothes you no longer want and buy secondhand items, you help preserve the planet’s water supply.

If you’re looking for a way to make a difference, start by donating to Goodwill. We make it easy to give stuff a new life to keep the planet a bit greener!

It’s no secret you can find a good bargain at your local Goodwill, but our Ballantyne – East location is taking top honors. Charlotte Magazine named Ballantyne – East the winner of its “Surprising Steals” category for its 2024 Best of the Best Awards. 

“It opened in late 2022, but this Ballantyne – East location still looks, feels, and smells new. Clothes are well organized and inventory is constantly refreshed. Find Lululemon, Athleta, Nike, Patagonia, North Face, and Lilly Pulitzer, and a kids section with clothing as gently used as it comes. If you know people who turn their noses up at Goodwill, take them here to change their minds,” they wrote. 

When you shop at this location, and others, you’ll do more than find a good bargain. Donating and shopping at the nonprofit’s 36 retail locations and more than 40 donation sites in the Greater Charlotte region fund its mission of providing job training and career placement services to people in our community – free of charge!

At Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, our mission is to build pathways that help people pursue the life they want to achieve. The revenue we generate in our retail stores is what funds the life-changing programs and services we’re able to offer to people in our community free of charge – people like Camryn, Andre and Chasity. To prevent abuse of our return policy – and to provide as much funding for our nonprofit’s mission as possible – we’re making a couple updates that will go into effect May 1, 2024.

UPDATED RETURN POLICY

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont offers a store credit on certain items that are returned within 30 days of purchase and accompanied by the original receipt. All customers returning items must present a state-issued ID at the time of the return. There is a $500 limit on returns within any rolling 12-month period. We do not offer cash refunds.

THESE ITEMS ARE ELIGIBLE TO RETURN FOR STORE CREDIT:

THESE ITEMS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO RETURN FOR STORE CREDIT:

Eligible items purchased from a GISP traditional store (all stores except GW: A Goodwill Boutique, The GRID: Powered by Goodwill and Second Editions: A Goodwill Outlet) can be returned at any GISP traditional store. Items purchased from GW and The GRID must be returned at the store from which they were purchased. We do not offer returns at our outlet stores, Second Editions. If the items were tagged at the time of purchase, the original tags must be on the merchandise in order to complete the return.

COMMON QUESTIONS

1: Do you offer cash refunds?

2: How long do I have to make a return?

3. Are all items eligible for a return?

4: Can I return items I purchased from one of your stores to a different store within your region?

5: If I make a return at one of your stores and get store credit, can I use that credit at any of the stores within your region?

6: Are all sales final at the Second Editions outlet stores?

7: Is there a limit to the number of items I can return?

8: Why do I have to show a state-issued ID to make a return beginning May 1, 2024?

9: What is a state-issued ID?

10: How will you keep my data secure?

Before Mark started working at Goodwill in 2016, he was looking for a chance to start a career but had some roadblocks in the way.   

“I moved from California in 2008. But before that, I had been in prison for 12 years,” Mark shared. “Coming here was a fresh start. But when [companies] saw my record, nobody wanted to give me a fresh start.”

Mark owned a cleaning company, but the income was too inconsistent, so he came to Goodwill looking for some help with his job search.  

“I went to Goodwill for resume help, but then I started working in the stores,” he said. “The store manager told me the first day, ‘You should be in management.’ Six months to a year later, she promoted me to Shift Manager and then Assistant Manager.”

As an Assistant Manager, Mark says that every day brings something different to his position.

“I like being flexible. I like the freedom and the opportunity to do a little bit of everything. I like talking and laughing with the customers and seeing people find a gem that they’ve been looking for,” he shared. 

Finding a position at Goodwill helped Mark build a life with more stability. 

“It helped me mentally and financially, because mentally, I was beaten up. Everybody was telling me no. In the eight years that I’ve been here, I’ve barely missed a day. Goodwill saw my record, and they still gave me a chance. So, I’m going to make good on the chance they took with me,” he emphasized. 

In April, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont recognizes Second Chance Month, a time to raise awareness of the challenges facing people with justice-involved backgrounds and to spotlight the important work being done by community-based organizations to empower second chance individuals to achieve career and life success. Mark is a demonstration of our mission, growing from a participant we served to a Goodwill team member.

“[Goodwill] can help you get where you want to be, or at least take that first step,” he stated. “When I’m cashiering and a customer asks what the round up goes to, I get the opportunity to explain to them that I came through the program that you’re donating to. So, it makes an impact.”

Throughout his journey here at Goodwill, Mark has found close friends, many that he considers family, that have also inspired him.

“I’ve met a lot of good people through Goodwill,” he said. “I enjoy the people I work with; we’re like a big family. Most of us have been working together since I started; and some of them [worked here] before me. I was their peer and now I’m their manager, but they respect that, and I appreciate it. Everybody here has been so helpful. It made me believe in the Goodwill experience.”

ABOUT THE DONATION DRIVE

Join Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont and WCNC Charlotte for the Goodwill Day of Giving on Saturday, May 11, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Charlotte Premium Outlets! Clean out your closets, declutter your drawers, and drop off the items you no longer want at this special donation drive. Not sure what you can donate? Check out our list of items we can and cannot accept!

HOW YOUR DONATIONS DO GOOD

FOR THE COMMUNITY:

We’ll sell the donations we receive from this special drive in our retail stores and online shops, and use the proceeds to fund job training programs, job search support services, family stability services and more – all of which we offer free of charge to thousands of people in our community each year. Last year, your donations and purchases allowed us to help more than 9,000 people in our community advance their careers and improve their lives.

FOR THE PLANET:

When you donate your unwanted items to Goodwill, you give them a second chance. Goodwill stores play a big part in the circular economy, which is a system that keeps products in circulation for as long as possible. Goodwill helps communities extend the life of usable items, which lessens the amount of material sent to landfills or incinerators. Millions of donated items are given a second life through your local Goodwill each year.

CAN’T MAKE IT?

If you can’t make it to the Goodwill Day of Giving, don’t worry! Goodwill accepts donations every day at its 36 retail stores and 10+ drop-off locations.

 

Refresh – Redecorate – Repurpose

Spruce up your space for spring! Stop by your local Goodwill to find everything you need to refresh and redecorate your living spaces. Our stores are stocked with furniture, decor, wall art, lamps, throw pillows, dishware and more. You can even repurpose secondhand items and give them a second life with a little DIY project. One DIY upcycling project we particularly love is painting thrifted vinyls and using them as wall art – like the display at our Ballantyne store pictured below.

Great Finds In Stores Now

Do Good for Our Community

Your donations and purchases do big things for our community! Every time you drop off your gently used items or buy something at Goodwill, you help someone on their pathway to prosperity. That’s because the revenue we generate from selling items in our stores funds job training programs, job search support, family stability services and more – all of which we offer free of charge to thousands of people in our community each year, including our very own team members.

Did you know that donating your electronics and gently used items to Goodwill helps the earth tremendously? Help keep our planet safe and healthy while you declutter and start your spring cleaning this season.

RECYCLE YOUR ELECTRONICS WITH GOODWILL

Electronic waste is the fastest-growing waste problem in the world. Did you know that you can donate your used electronics to Goodwill, whether or not they work? Through our partnership with Dell Reconnect, we’ll refurbish your donated electronics to sell at our tech store, the GRID: Powered by Goodwill. If we can’t sell your electronic donations, we’ll recycle them responsibly, ensuring they don’t end up in a landfill. Here are four ways you can recycle your tech this Earth Month:

We accept the following items in all conditions and all brands:

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

In addition to helping the planet, donating your electronics and other items makes a difference by connecting people in our community to resources and job training at no cost. Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont uses the revenue generated from the sale of donations throughout its stores and online to provide job placement and training, certifications and credentials for anyone looking to grow their careers. Read about just a few of the thousands of people we’ve helped thanks to your donations here. 

Goodwill® Industries International (GII) held their Annual Conference of Executives in March 2024 in New Orleans. During the ceremony, a number of past and present executives were honored, including Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont’s Michael Elder, who was inducted into the Goodwill Hall of Fame. 

Elder served as president & CEO of the region’s nonprofit for more than 40 years, starting in 1976 – 11 years after its inception in 1965. During his tenure, the nonprofit grew from 61 employees to nearly 800 team members and expanded operations from two counties in North Carolina (Mecklenburg and Gaston) to operations in eight counties of North and South Carolina (Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Cleveland, Cabarrus, Union, York and Lancaster). From 1976 – 2017, Elder helped Goodwill expand its retail footprint from three stores to 24 stores and grow its annual operating budget from $532,000 to more than $60 million.

Elder was one of three illustrious Hall of Fame inductees honored during this year’s ceremony. His award was presented by his successor, Chris Jackson, current president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont.  

Elder was nominated by Jackson, who wrote in his nomination submission, “It is my honor to recommend J. Michael Elder for the Goodwill Hall of Fame. Michael is a friend and mentor who provided me with the amazing opportunity to join the Goodwill Family in 2010. Michael is one of those unique individuals who has dedicated his entire life to helping and advocating for others. I worked directly for Michael until his retirement in 2017, and he is one of the most outstanding people I have come to know. His focus on inclusion, equity and access to opportunity set the standard for others. This along with his outstanding leadership and willingness to share his knowledge and experience created an environment where everyone felt welcomed and had opportunities to achieve their dreams and aspirations.”    

Thanks to Elder’s contributions, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont now has more than 1,200 team members, spans 18 counties and operates retail locations in nine counties across the Charlotte region. 

The Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grants program is a five-year, $50 million commitment to help prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers. These Gable Grants directly support community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofit organizations and national nonprofit partners with strong local presence.  

The Lowe’s Foundation today announced Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is the recipient of an $800,000 award to support its Construction & Trade Skills training program. 

“We are grateful to Lowe’s for the longstanding support for our mission services at Goodwill, especially for our career training programs since our Construction Skills Training Center was built in 2019,” said Chris Jackson, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. “This grant is an incredible show of support and trust in the work that we do to help people acquire new skills and launch meaningful careers so they can achieve more for themselves, and their families. These funds will allow Goodwill to equip more community members with in-demand construction skills to not only meet the need for qualified talent in Charlotte, but to provide access to careers with great earning potential, health and other benefits so more people in our community can prosper.” 

There is an acute skilled trades workforce crisis in the US, with the Associated Builders and Contractors estimating that 501,000 new skilled tradespeople will be needed on top of the normal pace of hiring to meet demand this year alone.  

Training programs like the ones offered at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont are proven to help participants find success – in fact, in 2023, more than 100 graduates launched their construction careers, with an average starting wage of $20.98 per hour, with 90 percent of them retaining those positions.  

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont will use its $800,000 grant to scale its Construction & Trade Skills training program that not only offers industry-recognized credentials and skills, but also stability services, personalized coaching and access to employers to launch successful construction careers.  

During a check presentation at the Lowe’s Tech Hub this morning, Jackson said, “This support for our Construction & Trade training program is enabling us to expand the number of classes and cohorts to support more than 600 people with construction training in the next two years in HVAC, electrical, carpentry and construction basics.” 

He explained that this grant will also allow the nonprofit to offer access to additional online learning material, and increase virtual and augmented reality training offerings – as they shift to more dynamic and interactive learning models to support people’s unique learning styles. 

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is one of two nonprofits in Charlotte to receive a Gable Grant, which is part a larger $6 million investment from the Lowe’s Foundation to 10 total nonprofits across the country offering innovative skilled trades programming.