1.18 million donors gave to Orange County’s largest nonprofit in 2017
SANTA ANA, Calif., March 5, 2017– Goodwill of Orange County announced today it received a record 4.2 million pounds of donated goods over the 2017 holiday season.
The donated clothing, home goods and furniture filled the nonprofit’s entire 160,000 sq. ft. warehouse and more than 50 additional semi-truck trailers. The result: 420,000 fewer pounds of goods will end up at local landfills.
Goodwill of Orange County also announced that in 2017 more than 1.18 million donors dropped off goods at one of Goodwill of Orange County’s 25 retail stores and donation centers.
“The local community, business partners and organizations, and our employees have been huge champions of Goodwill’s mission for years and it’s incredible to see that support grow through the amount of donations we continue to receive,” said Frank Talarico, Jr., president and CEO, Goodwill of Orange County. “Every piece of clothing, furniture, or home goods collected generates the revenue to provide programs and services for people facing barriers to employment, such as veterans and people with disabilities.”
The Goodwill Store and Donation Center in Lake Forest alone received more than 125,000 donations – the most of any other Goodwill of OC location in 2017. On average, this location sees approximately 10,500 donors per month – with the summer months having the highest volume of donors.
Last year was Goodwill of Orange County’s highest volume of donors since 2012. From 2012-2017, Goodwill of OC has received 6,571,894 donations.
Donations are calculated based on individual drop-offs – if one donor brings in five gently used goods, that is counted as one donation.
Donating to Goodwill of Orange County creates opportunity for people in the community facing barriers find employment and a pathway to independence. For every item donated or purchased, more than 93 cents of every dollar funds dozens of programs and services including Employment Training and Job Readiness Programs; the Goodwill Fitness Center, Orange County’s only facility specially designed for people suffering from chronic illnesses and physical disabilities; the Tierney Center for Veteran Services, helping veterans and their families find resources and services they need; the Assistive Technology Exchange Center (ATEC), which provides access to more than 1,000 state-of-the-art technology devices for children and adults with disabilities; and many more programs that serve those facing barriers in Orange County.
Last year, Goodwill of OC served more than 27,000 people. “Due to the generosity of our community, we will likely serve more than 30,000 next year for the first time in our 90-year history,” said Talarico, Jr. “On behalf of our program participants, thank you to everybody who chose to donate their gently used goods to Goodwill of OC. You are making a positive difference in the community.”
Making a donation to Goodwill of Orange County helps change lives in your community. Create Goodwill by donating your gently used items to your nearest Goodwill of Orange County store and donation center today.
To find a store or donation center near you, please visit:
https://www.ocgoodwill.org/about-us/goodwill-locations
About Goodwill of Orange County
Goodwill helps people who are facing barriers to find and keep jobs, which provides purpose, pride, and dignity. Founded on the belief that every person should have the opportunity to achieve the independence that work provides, Goodwill is most recognized for being the conduit where donated goods are sold in America’s favorite thrift stores to generate the revenue that provides the services to those who face employment challenges. Celebrating its 90th year in 2014, Goodwill of Orange County has supported hundreds of thousands of Orange County residents since its inception by creating and providing quality training and employment services to empower its program participants to be productive and independent. The nonprofit organization has dozens of programs that support this effort, including the Goodwill Rogers A. Severson Fitness & Technology Center, Orange County’s only facility specially designed for people suffering from chronic illnesses and physical disabilities; its global approach to serving veterans and their families, Goodwill of Orange County Tierney Center for Veteran Services, which helps former service members and their families find resources and services to meet and serve their unique needs, including housing, job placement, education, and wellness; and its Assistive Technology Exchange Center (ATEC), which provides access to more than 1,000 state-of-the-art technology devices for children and adults with disabilities. These are just a few of Goodwill of Orange County’s innovative programs that have served those facing barriers in Orange County for the past nine decades. In 2012, Goodwill was named one of Orange County’s Most Trusted Brands. To learn more about Goodwill of Orange County, visit ocgoodwill.org.
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Media Contact: Emma Engelage, (949) 200-6111, eengelage@cornerstonecomms.com
