I can still remember the first time I saw them.
I was perusing my local Goodwill, as most high school students do, on the search for diamond-in-the-rough treasures. I'd gone through books, housewares and had moved on to clothes. Vintagely-thin tee shirts and prom dresses were all in my sights.
Then I saw them.
Sitting on a shelf amidst other shoes, humbly trying to blend in although they were born to shine:
A new pair of brown Doc Martins.
At the time, a pair of Dr. Martin's boots were the thing to have. These british invaders of fashion were all the rage with a raging price tag to go along with it.
Yet, here was a barely-scuffed pair in my size at my local Goodwill.
It was truly a match made in heaven.
As a high school student, Goodwill was an inexpensive way to find neat clothes or donate my old stuff. As an older(ish) and wiser(ish) adult, I've learned that there is so much more to Goodwill. Did you know that:
- When you donate a bag of clothing and a bag of books, it can equal up to 2.3 hours of on-the-job training for someone in your community?
- Goodwill is the leading nonprofit provider of job training programs and career services in the United States and Canada.
When you donate items to Goodwill, you aren't just getting rid of stuff. You are a part of creating jobs and training for people who have disabilities, lack education or job experience, or face other challenges to finding employment. You are partnering with Goodwill for social good.
I. Love. That.
I love that there are still people and organizations that truly care about every individual, that care about their communities. That there is goodwill in the world, looking to make a difference.
Check out this video on how Goodwill is committed to building communities and creating jobs:
Want to be part of the revolution?
Use the Goodwill Locator Tool to find a Goodwill location near you. Goodwill also has a handy dandy Donation Impact Calculator to give you an idea of how many hours of service programs YOUR donations could create right on your own community!
Follow the impact with Goodwill and the Ad Council's campaign "Donate Stuff, Create Jobs" with hashtag #DonateStuffCreateJobs on Facebook and Twitter.
What is YOUR Goodwill Story?
How will YOU be part of the change in your community?
