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Warehouse fire leaves Goodwill short on donations
12/16/08
MUSKEGON – The holiday season is a great time to make room for your holiday gifts by cleaning your closets and donating your gently-used clothing and other unwanted household items to Goodwill. You can also claim a tax deduction and get a little money back from Uncle Sam in the process.
"End the holiday season and start the new year off right by giving the gift of hope," says Richard Carlson, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of West Michigan. "Every donation to Goodwill helps make 2009 a better year for thousands of individuals who need job training and other Goodwill career services."
Your donations benefit the jobless in the West Michigan community by supporting Goodwill's job training and employment placement programs. Over 90% of revenue generated from donations sold in Goodwill's retail stores funds education and career services for people with disabilities and other disadvantages such as company lay-off, welfare dependency, homelessness, and lack of education or work experience.
Goodwill could use a little extra help this season after losing a large amount of stored donations in a warehouse fire caused by a lightening strike on October 26. The fire was quickly controlled, but extensive smoke and water damage resulted in the loss of two-thirds of the 17,000-square-foot warehouse's contents.
"We're a little lean this year on donations," said Retail Operations Directors James Cherney. "We could use the community's help in replenishing our supply – especially clothing and textiles. All of our stores offer a convenient donation ‘drive-thru" with helpful attendants."
Goodwill accepts clothing, household items, toys, computers (any brand, any condition), cars and other vehicles, and even those holiday gifts that weren't quite right.
Donors interested in claiming tax deductions should keep itemized lists of their donations. The Internal Revenue Service allows a deduction for each item, but the donor determines each item's value. Generally, an item's value should be based on fair market value – what the item would sell for in a Goodwill store. Goodwill provides receipts to donors at its drop-off sites, and attendants can validate itemized lists when they are presented. For general guidelines, visit www.irs.gov. For an estimated values guideline, and a downloadable donation slip you can print out and fill out ahead of time, visit www.goodwillwm.org.
Financial donations are also welcome. Donate online, or mail your check to Goodwill Industries of West Michigan, 271 East Apple Avenue, Muskegon, MI 49442.
Contact: Liz Witzler, Marketing Director, (231) 722-7871 x223