30 Apr Goodwill, Uber Team Up for Nationwide Mobile Donation Campaign

Drivers to Pick Up, Deliver Donations for Free in Midtown Nashville Saturday, May 2

Tens of thousands of Nashville residents will be able to donate clothes to Goodwill with the touch of a mobile device on Saturday, May 2, thanks to a partnership between Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee and the on-demand transportation platform, Uber.

From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, donors in Midtown Nashville and surrounding neighborhoods can open the Uber app and request a pickup of their donations to be delivered by an Uber driver directly to their local Goodwill, free of charge. A map of coverage areas for the donation drive can be found online at http://blog.uber.com/springcleaning2015-nashville.

Building on the success of previous promotions in the New York, Boston and San Francisco areas, this is the first time Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee and Uber have partnered on a full-scale nationwide campaign. The partnership is available in more than 50 cities across the U.S. and Sao Paulo, Brazil where both Uber and Goodwill operate.

Here’s how it works:

1. People in Nashville and around the country who are spring cleaning will bag up clothing like jackets, shirts and pants to donate to Goodwill.
2. On Saturday, May 2, donors will open the Uber app and be able to select the “GIVE” option on the bottom of the screen. Tens of thousands of Nashville area residents already use Uber, but those who have not can still download the app from the iTunes App Store or Google Play and participate in the donation drive at no cost.
3. An Uber vehicle will arrive to pick up bags, and the driver will drop-off the donations to Goodwill.
4. A receipt will be issued by email for those wishing to seek a tax deduction for their donation.

UBER-GOODWILL DONATION DRIVE

When: Saturday, May 2

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Where: Nashville

The Details:

• All clothing and household items must be bagged for drivers to accept donations.
• Drivers will arrive at requested pickup locations. Donors are responsible for bringing bags outside, as drivers cannot leave their vehicles unattended.
• For those who have already completed their spring cleaning and donations, or live in areas where Uber isn’t available, monetary donations can be made to Goodwill at http://give.goodwill.org

“This partnership demonstrates Uber’s commitment to local communities on a national and international scale,” said Chris Fletcher, PR & communications manager for Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee. “This collaboration will make spring cleaning easier for Nashville residents, while ensuring that the clothing they donate is diverted from landfills and supports Goodwill’s efforts to put people back to work.”

Goodwill uses revenue from donations sold in its retail stores to help fund job placement and training programs in communities where goods are donated. Last year, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, which serves 48 counties across Middle and West Tennessee, assisted 28,159 people and helped 9,558 land jobs.

“Both Uber and Goodwill strive to make a meaningful impact on local communities, and we are thrilled to once again team up with Goodwill to make donating fast and easy for Uber users,” said David Plouffe, senior vice president of policy and strategy at Uber. “Those who participate in this campaign are not only checking something off their to-do list, but supporting Goodwill and its mission to strengthen communities by providing job placement and training for people in need.”

A list of cities participating in the Goodwill and Uber spring cleaning partnership can be found online at blog.uber.com/springcleaning2015.

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. In 2014, Goodwill served 28,159 people in Middle and West Tennessee and placed 9.558 people in jobs. 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.

About Uber

Uber is a technology platform that is evolving the way the world moves. By seamlessly connecting riders to drivers through our apps, we make cities more accessible, opening up more possibilities for riders and more business for drivers. From our founding in 2009 to our launches in over 300 cities today, Uber’s rapidly expanding global presence continues to bring people and their cities closer. Follow us on Twitter: @Uber and find us on Facebook: Uber.