Researchers at UCLA’s Center on the Everyday Lives of Families (CELF) say Americans’ preoccupation with possessions has created a “clutter culture,” and that the chaos created by having so much stuff is a leading cause of stress. Luckily, Goodwill Industries of Central Florida can help reduce the clutter. The nonprofit is asking the community for “Spring Cleaning” donations of gently used clothing, household goods and electronics – revenue from which supports Goodwill’s job training and placement services.
“We’re a nation of consumers and sometimes that leads to over-consumption,” says Bill Oakley, CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Florida. “By donating items you no longer use, you extend the lifecycle of goods and, in the process, help fund important Goodwill programs that put people to work and strengthen families.”
Goodwill provides career services that anyone in Central Florida can use to boost their chances of getting hired, including assistance in writing résumés, job interview practice and access to job leads with local employers. In fact, since the beginning of 2013, Goodwill has served over 5,500 local residents at its Job Connection Centers – and of those, 672 have secured employment.
And soon, Central Florida residents will have even more options when it comes to donating to Goodwill. Both Clermont and Waterford Lakes will have new locations in April, and the nonprofit is opening multiple Attended Donation Centers in the coming months. For information regarding retail stores, donation sites or Job Connection Centers, visit www.goodwillcfl.org.
