Goodwill to accept donations again

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania has decided to open for no-contact donations.

Despite a request to hold donations, some locations became overrun with bags and boxes of household goods.

After receiving approval from the state, the company announced Tuesday that 27 locations, including Rostraver Township and North Versailles, will open no-contact, self-service donation areas daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In a news release, the company said large donations left unattended at closed donation sites caused health and safety issues for the community and employees needing to clean up donations ruined by inclement weather.

When businesses were ordered to closed, Goodwill asked donors to hold donations during coronavirus-mitigation directives, but donations began piling up outside various locations.

President and CEO of Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania Mike Smith said during the stay-at-home order, people began cleaning to pass time.

“We know that many people are doing their spring cleaning while at home during the COVID-19 situation,” Smith said. “We know people need an outlet for all of the merchandise they have accumulated, and we don’t want community donations to end up in the trash.  

“Having our donation centers available helps alleviate unintended health and safety consequences, as well as hurting our environment by filling landfills with material that could be reused.”  

Residents who want to donate merchandise can drive up to a self-service area located outside the Goodwill store and place items in specially marked bins.

Once donations are dropped off, they will be moved to quarantined areas within the store.

A QR code that can be scanned is available at each site to provide donation receipts.

Employees will wear personal protective equipment when handling donations, but items should be placed in bags or boxes.

Once donations are dropped off and sorted, they will be stored for at least 72 hours before being handled.

All items will be accepted, but furniture must be small enough to be handled by one person.

Smith said 60% of revenue for the company is generated through donations sold at area thrift stores.

Revenue is used to provide job training and education for people with barriers to employment, including people with disabilities, people with economic disadvantages and people re-entering society after incarceration.

Smith said the need for such services will increase following COVID-19.

“The organization expects an increased need for Goodwill’s employment services for people who have lost jobs due to the crisis looking to get back into the workforce,” Smith said.

For more information, call 1-877-499-3526 or email welcome@goodwillswpa.org.