Although Goodwill receives donations from the public at it collection centers, there is a cost associated with those donations. Goodwill pays for store costs, leases, trash, transportation costs to haul items from the donation centers to the Goodwill plant and wages to employees who transport, sort and process the donations.

 

“Don’t give your donations to Goodwill because they sell their stuff, give it to an organization that helps people”

Goodwill operates stores and sells your donations in order to help fund and support Goodwill’s mission of providing job training and employment services to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Revenue from sales also are used to support Goodwill’s other programs such as Youngstown Radio Reading Service and Amblyopia screening of preschool children. The operation of Goodwill’s stores enables Goodwill to be less reliant on public funding, allowing Goodwill to be self-supporting and more financially stable. Additionally, Goodwill has partnerships with many other agencies throughout the community such as battered women’s shelters, disaster relief organizations, etc. where Goodwill vouchers are issued to their clients to obtain clothing and other items from Goodwill’s stores.

 

“Goodwill’s mission is to give clothing to the needy”

Goodwill’s mission is to provide job training and employment services, as well as job placement opportunities and post-employment support, to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Through its programs, Goodwill serves people with disabilities and disadvantages such as welfare dependency, homelessness and lack of education or work experience, helping people to overcome barriers to employment and become independent, tax-paying (instead of tax-using) members of the community. In addition, Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries offers services for the visually impaired and various other social services.

 

While Goodwill tries to offer merchandise at a low cost, they do not give clothing and merchandise to people. Goodwill does, however, have the voucher program in place with several agencies which allows them to issue vouchers at their discretion so their clients can obtain clothing at no cost.

 

“I need help paying my utilities, mortgage, bills or buying groceries”

Goodwill does not provide financial support or bill paying services to people, as it does not fit in with Goodwill’s overall mission.

 

“Store clerks and personnel are volunteers”

All employees in Goodwill stores are paid employees, there are no volunteer positions. However, Goodwill stores do provide work adjustment and training for clients who are in Goodwill’s job training programs. Goodwill also works with local Job & Family Services programs to provide worksites.

 

“Goodwill is a consignment shop”

Goodwill is not a consignment shop. Consignment shops accept merchandise on a consignment basis, paying the owners of the merchandise a percentage when and if the items are sold. Goodwill stores are thrift stores which are stores run by a nonprofit organization to raise money to fund charitable causes. Goodwill does not pay donors for their items.

 

“Goodwill is funded by the government”

Goodwill’s primary source of funding comes from its retail stores and donated goods (72%). Other sources of funding for Goodwill include contract jobs (10%), rehabilitation services (11%), public support (4%) and miscellaneous other sources (3%). Although Goodwill does have some government contracts, Goodwill itself is not funded by the government or the state.

 

“Goodwill gives cars to people”

Goodwill does have a used car lot at their main facility in Liberty; however they do not give cars away. Goodwill accepts donations of cars and sells them a low price using the proceeds to help support Goodwill’s mission and fund their programs.

 

“Goodwill stores are all the same”

Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries is a member of Goodwill Industries International; however each Goodwill operates autonomously within their own designated territory. All Goodwill stores and donation centers are owned and operated by the local Goodwill Industries serving that community. Goodwill Industries International has no control over local store and donation operations.

 

“Goodwill and Salvation Army are the same”

Although both operate thrift stores, Goodwill and the Salvation Army are two separate organizations, with two different missions and are not affiliated with each other in any way.

 

“Goodwill accepts anything, including nonsaleable items”

Goodwill only accepts items which are able to be sold in their stores and does their best to get rid of any nonsaleable items before they end up in the stores. Unfortunately, Goodwill receives many items which they cannot sell for safety reasons or because they are not suitable for sale. Goodwill is forced to dispose of these items which results in an annual trash bill of over $100,000 -- funds which could be put to better use offering services in the community. A list of non-acceptable items can be found at each donation center or on Goodwill’s website at www.gooodwillyoungstown.org.

 

“Most people who shop in your stores are ‘poor’”

Although Goodwill does try to offer low-cost merchandise below that of the discount retail stores, there are many different types of people --and at various income levels-- who shop in Goodwill stores. According to research compiled by GII through survey results of various Goodwill’s across the United States, as well as through Nielson National Shopper surveys, the most common findings regarding Goodwill shoppers were: the vast majority are females, most have incomes over $25,000, and 17% have incomes between $30,000 and $50,000, and most are in the 35 to 55 age range, although the percentage of young shoppers seems to be increasing. Goodwill also caters to those who are bargain hunters, antique collectors and treasure hunters.

 

“Goodwill is still a religious based organization/Christ Mission”

Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries was established in 1893 as the Christ Mission Settlement (affiliated with the Methodist church), but later dropped the name and became Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, Inc. Goodwill has no religious affiliations.

 

“Goodwill throws a lot of donations away”

Goodwill makes every attempt to use every donated item, either selling it in Goodwill retail stores, to a broker or recycling; however nearly 50% of the clothing received it too badly stained, torn, damaged, etc. to sell and over 60% of other items are not saleable because they are broken and/or unsafe. Goodwill no longer sells baby items, many toys and electronics because of safety concerns.

 

“Goodwill only sells used items”

The majority of the merchandise in Goodwill’s stores is gently used items; however Goodwill does offer some new merchandise. New merchandise is either purchased by Goodwill from various vendors or obtained as a result from partnerships with several department stores.

 

“Goodwill sells ripped, soiled items that aren’t suitable to buy”

Goodwill does its best to ensure that only those items suitable for sale go to its seven retail stores, however sometimes things slip through the cracks or are items that may be easily repaired.

 

“Goodwill only employs handicapped people”

Goodwill is an equal opportunity employer and hires all types of people. You do not have to go through one of Goodwill’s job training programs in order to be hired by Goodwill. Different positions at Goodwill require different skills and education levels. Goodwill makes a conscious effort to hire people with disabilities. Over 75% of Goodwill’s direct labor is made up of people with disabilities.

 

“Goodwill is just a retail operation”

Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries Goodwill services and programs include: vocational evaluation, work adjustment, skills training, sheltered employment, job placement, social services, radio reading service (a radio station which broadcasts print material to the blind and print-impaired), amblyopia screening/vision screening for preschoolers, eyeglass program, adaptive aids, housing, daily living skill instruction, and medical and consultation services. Goodwill also employs people and provides services to local businesses such as laundry, wiping cloths, janitorial services and contract work.