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Where can I donate my no longer needed items?
Visit our Where to Donate page to find a location nearest you.
Does Goodwill offer a pick-up service for donations?
In order to keep our costs down, we are unable to make house calls to pick up donations, however we offer ten attended donation centers in convenient locations around town. All of our retail stores also accept donated items. Our attendants will gladly assist you in offloading donations from your vehicle.
Why should I donate to Goodwill rather than another organization?
Goodwill puts your donations to work! Over 86 percent of Goodwill of Central Virginia's revenue goes directly into employment and training programs for people with disabilities and others with obstacles to employment. Goodwill stores also provide jobs and work experience for individuals in Goodwill's education and training programs. Some for-profit companies arrange to use a charity's name to collect donations in exchange for a flat fee or percentage of the revenue. Often this is not evident to those donating, and the percentage that is given to the charity may be less than 5 cents for every dollar spent. Wouldn't you prefer to donate to an organization like Goodwill, where more of your donation goes to charitable activities, where more people can get the help they need?
What happens to donated items that aren't sold in Goodwill stores?
Our goal is to try and generate revenues to fund Goodwill programs for every item that is donated. We recycle those textiles that are not salable, by baling them for resale to industrial buyers who turn them into useful items including cleaning cloths. Items that need minor repair, or items that we do not have the space for in our retail stores, are sold to the highest bidders at one of four general merchandise auctions held weekly at the Goodwill main facility. Read more about our auctions
If I shop at a Goodwill store, will I be depriving disadvantaged people of items they need?
No. Goodwill serves disadvantaged individuals through education, training and job placement programs, as well as support services. Along with other Goodwill member agencies, Goodwill of Central Virginia offers a community service voucher program to help people in need obtain clothing and other items from our stores.
Who does Goodwill help?
Goodwill's programs and services are designed to meet the training and placement needs of the local community. While some programs are specifically developed for individuals with disabilities, the general public can take advantage of many of our Job Center and support services, including Job Seeking Skills Classes, Customer Service Training, Computer Literacy Training and the Family Learning Center. Some individuals that use Goodwill's services face a number of obstacles to employment, including a lack of work history, illiteracy, language barriers, dependency on public assistance, and corporate downsizing.
Does Goodwill offer volunteer opportunities?
We welcome you to let us know if you have experience or expertise that can assist us with programs and services, community outreach or other areas, or if you have a group that may be interested in volunteering at Goodwill facilities. Be sure to check back for volunteer opportunities!
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