Little known fact about me: I thrift. I am not opposed to shopping second-hand, especially when you can find good items. One of the places I like shopping at is Goodwill. In fact, my leather couch set came from Goodwill and I have snagged a couple of clothing items there as well. But I don’t just shop there. I also donate. Every few months I gather a bag of items and donate. I also make sure to keep my donation receipts for when I do my taxes. But, have you ever wondered where the money goes for your donation?

Well a Social Good campaign explaining just that came across my desk on behalf of Goodwill. It’s called “Donate Stuff. Create Jobs.’

 

A simple item donated to Goodwill® can help provide job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have disabilities, lack education or job experience, or face other challenges to finding employment. In fact, Goodwill is the leading nonprofit provider of job training programs and career services in the United States and Canada.

Did you know that donating one bag of clothing and one bag of books can equal up to 2.3 hours of on-the-job training for someone in your community? Add to that a used lamp, a dusty computer and perhaps a box of DVDs and CDs, and that number nearly doubles to 5.2 hours! Click Goodwill’s Donation page and see the “Donation Impact Calculator” – it’ll tell you how many service hours will be generated thanks to your tax deductible donation.

Once you see how vital you can be to your community but giving items you no longer use or need, I’m sure you’ll be happy to donate. Here’s the Goodwill Locator tool that not only specifies drop off locations, but it can help you find Goodwill stores, headquarters, and job training facilities nearby.

About Goodwill Industries International

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with affiliates in 13 other countries. Goodwill is one of America’s top 25 most inspiring companies (Forbes). Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 2,700 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com®. Local Goodwill agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In 2012, more than 6.7 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill’s career services. Goodwill channels 82 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services.

To find a Goodwill near you, use the online locator at www.goodwill.org, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow them on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl, and on Facebook: GoodwillIntl.

Disclosure: This post is part of a Bloggin’ Mamas Social Good campaign run in conjunction with Element Associates, the Ad Council and Goodwill.