02 Dec D Movement: ‘Tis the season for giving… but you have given all year long

Jennifer Kalifa, Donations Manager

I’ve been a part of Goodwill for almost 18 years and, let me tell you, it’s been exciting! I have seen the company grow and what’s been especially important to me is how many lives we’ve changed. It’s because of you, our donors, and I want to thank each and every one of you. You do so much to help so many and should be proud of yourself for what you do with every item you donate.

There are many ways your donations change lives. Because you give, you’ve provided jobs for 100 employees in the donations department and 1,400 others who work in our processing centers, our retail stores, our transportation department, our corporate employees and everyone else associated with our Goodwill. That’s a lot of lives that have been changed because of your generosity.

Your donations also provide fun and affordable shopping experiences for the people who rely on Goodwill for their clothes, furnishings, household items, and overall great ‘finds’. If you’ve not stopped in one of our stores, I’ll tell you, you’re missing out on great deals!

I like to think of Goodwill as one of the original recyclers. We take the items you don’t need any longer and return them to the retail side of our business so they can find a second life with someone else. That means less in the landfills.

But more than that, I like the culture at Goodwill. I like that we’re a self-sustaining company and I like it that the more donations we receive, the more money we have to provide more people job training and skills. Everything extra truly means more jobs and opportunities.

I love going into our stores and seeing people I hired many years ago who still enjoy their jobs. I think Goodwill offers unlimited opportunities and each employee truly has the opportunity to be the best, regardless of their barrier.

Our name, Goodwill, says it all. A lot of times I think it’s important for people to look back to see how far we’ve come. We don’t waste people’s money and are truly resourceful. The more money we make, the more money we can put into programs. Not many companies can say they’re financially stable and that’s comforting for me. We’re little ‘ole Goodwill and we keep growing, helping and proving we’re here to help. I hope everyone has an awesome holiday season!

We are thankful for you all year long. Tell us, how could we make your donation experience better?