Are you part of the Salvation Army?
Goodwill Industries and the Salvation Army are completely different organizations with different missions.

Does Goodwill make house calls to pick up donations?
We no longer provide pick-up services for donations. This service was provided in the past but unfortunately the cost of the service out weighed the benefits.

Where can I donate my stuff?
Most of our retail stores also accept and process donations on site. Click here for a list of donation locations.

Why should I donate to my local Goodwill rather than another thrift store?
Goodwill Stores are linked to a great cause -- about 84 percent of Goodwill's revenues go directly into employment and training programs for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment! For-profit thrift stores sometimes arrange to use a charity's name to collect donations in exchange for a flat fee or a percentage of the revenue. Often this deal is not generally publicized, and the percentage that charity actually makes may be less than 5 cents for every dollar spent. Make your donations wisely!

It seems like Goodwill services vary in different geographic locations. Why is this?
Each of our members operates autonomously. Goodwill organizations strive to identify the needs of the community and the demand of local industry for employment. Based on the needs of the community, each local Goodwill designs programs and services that give Goodwill graduates the skills they need to find work right where they live.

If I shop at a Goodwill store, will I be depriving disadvantaged people of stuff they need?
No. Goodwill serves disadvantaged people by educating, training and placing them into jobs. By becoming gainfully employed, these individuals gain resources to buy the things they need.

Who does Goodwill help?
Goodwill serves those with barriers to employment. This includes individuals with disabilities, people with limited work history, those who have experienced corporate downsizing and recipients of government support programs. Goodwill's services are designed to meet the training and placement needs of the individual.

I bought three chairs in one of your stores and wanted a fourth. Why couldn't I find one in another Goodwill store?
Because we rely on donations from the community for our merchandise, we cannot count on having consistent merchandise in all of our stores. What we can try to maintain is consistently good quality in the merchandise we stock.

I saw a dress in your store that I donated to Goodwill. I thought you gave donated clothing to the poor.
Goodwill Industries is a nonprofit resource that assists people to achieve self-sufficiency. Other organizations give clothing away to needy people. We take people to the next step: We prepare people with wage-earning capacities so that they will no longer need to turn to charities for help. The proceeds from items that are sold in our stores pay for overhead costs and other expenses associated with providing this service to our community.

If I get a job in a Goodwill store, do I get first choice at buying new merchandise that comes in to your warehouse before it goes to a store?
Unfortunately, no. Our policies prohibit our employees and volunteers from "backroom shopping." We believe that our customers should get first choice in selecting fresh merchandise from our stores.

When I come to your store to shop, can I save a step and drop off my donations there, too?
Yes, indeed! We would like that very much, thank you. Don't forget to ask for a receipt for your donations, too.

Why are some things that are donated to you never sold in your stores?
We believe that our stores are a service to the community, offering the best possible quality merchandise at the lowest possible prices. Unfortunately, not all items that are donated to us are in workable condition or are of saleable quality.

Why do some of your stores sell a lot of furniture and others very little?
Our goal is to sell items in each of our stores that respond to the needs and demands of the shoppers in the immediate community. In some neighborhoods, shoppers prefer to have more clothing in our stores than furniture. Also, the differing physical size of our stores dictates which stores can accommodate furniture.

Why do you charge for things that are given to you for nothing?
We try to keep our merchandise fairly and reasonably priced. Though items are donated to us, there still are expenses that we must pay - costs for transportation, salaries of workers, rent and utilities, and other overhead costs. The remaining proceeds are applied to the expenses of providing employment preparation services for people who are disabled, disadvantaged and aged.

Why do you cut tags off some clothing/deface the label tag?
As well as receiving pre-worn clothing as donations, we also receive new merchandise from other retail stores from time to time, including designer wear, toys, linen and furnishings. These retailers and the product's manufacturer request that we remove or obliterate their labels from these items.