Goodwill Industries of Central Florida recently unveiled a community hub for economic opportunity, social mobility and environmental sustainability.
Community leaders, partners and supporters recently gathered at the newly renovated campus located at 7531 South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando.
In addition to enhancing the customer and donor experience in the retail space, the facility offers hands-on job training, one-on-one financial coaching and educational support. Two key partnerships are operating from the South OBT campus:
- The Work Transition pilot program with CareerSource Central Florida provides 12 weeks of paid job training to individuals seeking to move away from public assistance.
- Project COMPASS offers Orange County Public Schools students an alternative education program designed to keep them in school and on track to earn a high school diploma – increasing their earning potential by 25% compared to a peer who didn’t graduate.
“Our mission has always been to turn generosity into opportunity,” said Ed Durkee, President and CEO at Goodwill Industries of Central Florida. “We made a strategic decision to stay in this location, and that investment in this campus reflects our belief that every Central Floridian deserves the tools and access to resources that allow them to reach their full potential.”
Donations not only drive revenue that is re-invested in Goodwill’s community workforce development programs, but they also keep textiles and other household goods out of local landfills. In addition, redesigned drive-through donation lanes at the South OBT campus will make giving to Goodwill easier, helping the organization divert an estimated 27 million pounds of donated items from being trashed. In 2024, the organization repurposed nearly 24 million pounds of materials.
For more than 60 years, Goodwill Industries of Central Florida has provided vocational and job placement services to tens of thousands of people living in Central Florida. Through 31 retail/outlet stores and 21 Donation Xpress locations in Orange County, Seminole County, Osceola County, Brevard County, Lake County and Volusia County, Goodwill diverted nearly 24 million pounds of clothing and household items from landfills in 2024. Goodwill Industries of Central Florida directly channels more than 90 percent of its annual revenue into programs that enable individuals to secure meaningful employment, achieve their personal goals and thrive economically.
For more information about Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, including the nearest store or Donation Xpress, visit Goodwill online.
