Tag: Alberta

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.

With the current situation regarding COVID-19 and public health and safety, Goodwill Industries of Alberta has decided to temporarily close their retail locations and donation centres. In doing so, the organization is protecting the health and well-being of staff, volunteers, donors and shoppers.

By temporarily closing our locations, this means our organization is currently not seeking any donations. We understand people are in the midst of spring cleaning, and while working from home, they may be re-organizing their house, apartment, closets or home office space, and we are encouraging you to do so! However, we are urging the public to HOLD ON to their donations until after our organization is back in operation.

Goodwill does not have the staff or resources in place during this current global climate to handle any donations. Together we have to change and adapt our routines as necessary to combat COVID-19.

This is a temporary measure to ensure we continue to look out for our staff, people who frequent Goodwill and people with disabilities.

President and CEO, Dale Monaghan understands the current shift in habits will be difficult, but do-able as Goodwill looks forward to your support once this pandemic is handled accordingly.

“Goodwill is strong. Goodwill be here today, tomorrow and into the future to champion career development and environment stewardship, as well as supporting our team, our clients with disabilities, our shoppers and our donors.”

People helping people. Communities rallying in support of one another. Since 1963, community support has helped Goodwill become part of the fabric of Alberta, supporting Albertans with disabilities through the power of work and the dignity of a job.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have been carefully monitoring the progression of the situation and are closely adhering to the advice of Canada’s public health authorities.  We have aligned with their recommendations and have implemented numerous changes to our facilities, procedures and our protocols.

We are re-assuring you that there have been no cases of COVID-19 here at Goodwill and the health and safety of our employees, volunteers, shoppers and donors are of the utmost importance.

With this in mind, Goodwill Industries of Alberta has some difficult news.

As of March 21^st, Goodwill is temporarily closing store and donation centres throughout the province.

This is a temporary measure to ensure we continue to look out for our staff, people who frequent Goodwill and people with disabilities.

“This is not an easy decision, as our mandate is to provide employment opportunities and career development for those with disabilities,” says Kevin MacDonald, Chair of the Goodwill Board of Directors.

“Goodwill’s successful growth, fueled by the generosity of the community through donated clothing and used household goods, as well as those who shop within Goodwill’s retail outlets. Thanks to our community we have become an award-winning not-for-profit social enterprise, who is now one of the largest employers of people with disabilities in Alberta. Many of our team members, shoppers, volunteers and donors are our friends. They are our family. We understand this will affect many and we will work diligently to ensure no person is left behind.”

With the announcements from the Federal and Provincial governments in regards to economic measures in support of residents, businesses, not-for-profits and other organizations across the country, Goodwill is analyzing and understanding how our organization can work with levels of government to support Albertans and Canadians through this troubling time. These measures will include, but not limited to, sickness benefits, the Emergency Care Benefit, Employment Insurance and wage subsidies.

Goodwill would like to thank and publicly acknowledge the strength of leadership being demonstrated by Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Kenney, as well as the care and compassion of the medical officers and medical professionals across the country.

President and CEO, Dale Monaghan understands this is a very difficult with your loved ones and our community.

“Goodwill is strong. Goodwill be here today, tomorrow and into the future to champion career development and environment stewardship, as well as supporting our team, our clients with disabilities, our shoppers and our donors.”

Monaghan continues, “I cannot say thank you enough to the hundreds of thousands of Albertans who regularly support Goodwill. You continue to light the inspiration candle of so many, as together we change lives for the better, strengthening families and communities through the power of work and the dignity of a job.”