07 Apr Donation Site Launch Coincides with Lebanon ‘Think Green’ Event

Schools Hosting Goodwill Donation Drive April 11 at Lebanon Premium Outlets

The opening of a new Goodwill Donation Express Center in Wilson County will coincide with a community cleanup and recycling event that includes a donation drive for Goodwill by a dozen local schools.

The donation center, which will open Friday, April 10, will be located in the parking lot of Lebanon Premium Outlets at 1 Outlet Village Blvd. in Lebanon in front of the Nike Store. It will be the eighth Goodwill donation site where citizens can drop off gently used clothing and household items in Wilson County.

Although Goodwill has more than 80 Donation Express Centers, this will be the first one located at a mall. Hours at the new center will be 8 a.m.-6 p.m. seven days a week.

“We chose the location because of our outstanding relationship with Lebanon Premium Outlets and their community of stores,” said Goodwill Director of Donations Scott Crites. “It’s a high-traffic area with customers coming from all over. That exposure will be good for Goodwill, and the convenience will be great for our donors.”

On Saturday, April 11, more than 600 Wilson County students will take part in the Think Green, Think Clean Youth Litter Challenge & Recycling Carnival, part of which — including a donation drive for Goodwill — will be held at Lebanon Premium Outlets.

Activities begin at 9 a.m. with litter pickups in communities near participating schools. At noon, students will gather in the north parking lot of Lebanon Premium Outlets for the Recycling Carnival.

Officials from Byars Dowdy, Castle Heights, Coles Ferry, Sam Houston, Carroll Oakland, Mt. Juliet, Lakeview, Gladeville and Watertown elementary schools and Walter Baird, Winfree Bryant and Mt. Juliet middle schools have asked students and their families to bring items for donation to Goodwill to the carnival. The public is encouraged to support these schools by also bringing donations for Goodwill. Attendants will be onsite to accept items from students and the public. All donations are tax-deductible.

The purpose of the Think Clean, Think Green event is to instill in children and adults the importance of protecting the environment and keeping the community litter-free. Goodwill strives to be an excellent steward of the environment. In 2014, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, which serves 48 counties, kept more than 28 million pounds of salvage and recyclable material from going into landfills. Through recycling of cardboard and paper pulp last year alone, Goodwill saved more than 48,000 trees from being cut down.

Donations to Goodwill are sold in our retail stores to provide employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities and others who have trouble finding or keeping jobs. In 2014, Goodwill Career Solutions assisted 28,159 people and placed 9,558 into jobs.

Think Green, Think Clean is sponsored by the City of Lebanon and City of Mt. Juliet Stormwater Department, Wilson County Stormwater group, Lebanon Premium Outlets, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee and WANT 98.9 FM.

NEW GOODWILL DONATIONS EXPRESS CENTER OPENING

When: Friday, April 10

Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. 7 days per week

Where: Lebanon Premium Outlets parking lot near the Nike store

1 Outlet Village Blvd.

Lebanon, Tenn.

THINK GREEN, THINK CLEAN RECYCLING CARNIVAL

When: Saturday, April 11

Noon – 3 p.m.

Where: Lebanon Premium Outlets north parking lot

1 Outlet Village Blvd.

Lebanon, Tenn.

About Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.
For more than 55 years Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee has provided job training and job placement free of charge to people with disabilities or other barriers to employment through the sale of donated items. To set up a donation drive, contact Community Services Donation Specialist Jamie Goss at (615) 346-1844 or jamie.goss@givegw.org. More information about Goodwill’s Career Solutions, retail stores and donation centers can be obtained online at  www.giveit2goodwill.org or by calling 1 (800) 545-9231.