Donation Centres Re-Launch

Goodwill Donation Centres Open

Edmonton, AB (May 8, 2020) – Our world has been shaken and like any challenge, we are coming together for the health and well-being of our fellow-man. We are showing how people can rally as one to overcome any obstacle to revive what was once lost. Coming together, by staying apart. People helping people.

Our province continues to share goodness with our fellow neighbours. We continue to deliver good vibes throughout our cities. We give when we are struggling. We help when we need help the most. Together, we are spreading the good.

For Goodwill, this has meant temporarily closing our donation centres, our employment programs and our thrift retail stores to ensure our clients, donors, shoppers, volunteers and employees were safe and healthy during this uncertain time.

We are asking you to continue to spread the good, to help those that need a little more assistance because on May 9^th, 2020, we are re-launching and re-opening our Goodwill Donation Centres.

After weeks of organizing your home, apartment, closet and business, you now have the opportunity to donate your unwanted clothes or gently household items to help those with disabilities get back into the workforce. By donating, you will be supporting critical personal support services while also supporting waste management and diverting waste from local landfills.

Policies will be in place to accept donations, including but not limited to:

• No contact donation drop-offs
• Employees wearing COVID related personal protective equipment
• Disinfecting and sanitizing all donations upon arrival in partnership with True North Environmental Solutions.

President and CEO Dale Monaghan is happy many of the temporary laid off workers will return to work, and is still urging the public to be cautious in regards to COVID-19.

“Goodwill is happy to re-open our donation centres across the province as we continue to champion career development and environmental stewardship, supporting our team, our clients with disabilities, our shoppers and our donors.”

About 30% of Goodwill’s 750 employees has a disability and 89% of funds raised from your donation goes into programs that will help those with disability find a meaningful job, as we strengthen our community through the power of work and the dignity of a job.

“We must continue to play our part to support ongoing safety protocols, adhering to provincial legislation as we relaunch our operations,” says Monaghan.

Goodwill thrift store locations will not be open at this time and we will announce the opening at a later date.

Be well, stay safe and thank you for your ongoing support of Goodwill, as together we are making a difference in the lives of Albertans.

If you would like to know more about what people can do with their donations, or if you would like a walk-through of our donation centre to see the process on the sanitization of donated goods, please contact us below.

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About Goodwill Industries of Alberta: Creating positive change since 1963, Goodwill’s mission is to provide Albertans with disabilities the opportunity to enhance their lives through meaningful employment. Goodwill Alberta is one of the largest employers of Albertans with disabilities; 30% of Goodwill employees have a self-disclosed disability. We provide employment opportunities in our thrift stores and an accommodating work environment for Albertans with disabilities in Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, Grand Prairie, Calgary and Airdrie. Our Edmonton based Career Connections program has been providing employment coaching, job search, and training to individuals with developmental disabilities for decades. The success of Goodwill’s retail operations revolves around the generosity of people in our community choosing to donate to Goodwill and shop at our thrift stores. Every year over one million Albertans shop at Goodwill, and more than 700,000 Albertans donate to Goodwill; 89.2% of all revenues go back into our mission and remains in Alberta. We are also a major recycler of a growing range of donated items; we recycle more than 13 million kg every year.  We are a donor-driven charitable society and we’ve been proudly serving Albertans for nearly 60 years.