New Microsite Allows Donors to Calculate Their Impact, Track Holiday Goal
Changing someone’s life this holiday season is as easy as donating your gently used household items and clothing to Goodwill Hawaii.
As the season of giving kicks in to gear, Goodwill Hawaii is asking for the public’s help to reach its goal of 100,000 boxes of donations to support its mission of helping individuals with employment barriers. The goal is being tracked at Goodwill Hawaii’s newly launched microsite, goodwillhawaii.org/holiday, where donors can also calculate the impact of their donations and hear and read stories of the local people whose lives have been touched by the local nonprofit’s job training and placement programs.
“Donations of stuff fuels the cycle that allows Goodwill to put people to work and help them reach financial stability,” said Katy Chen, Goodwill Hawaii’s chief administrative officer. “By donating your gently used items to us, you’re not only supporting the local economy but also keeping millions of pounds out of Hawaii’s landfills at the same time. It’s a win-win situation for the entire community.”
Tina Bouatic, whose story is featured on the new microsite, is one of more than 11,000 people in Hawaii who has benefitted from Goodwill’s services this year. Having endured a difficult childhood, Tina found herself cutting school, smoking, drinking, doing drugs and pregnant by the age of 14. Her lifestyle eventually landed her in prison. Tina was referred to Goodwill after being furloughed from prison where she was able to get the job training and support she needed to secure two jobs and start to turn her life around.
In the past year, nearly 1,500 people like Tina across the Hawaiian Islands have been placed into employment through programs funded by the sale of donations at Goodwill Hawaii’s retail stores. Ninety percent of every dollar earned funds programs that provide educational advancement, job training and placement and career development for individuals with employment barriers.
Donations are accepted at 25 Goodwill Hawaii stores and attended donation centers across the state. To find a donation center, track the progress of Goodwill’s holiday goal and calculate your community impact or tax deduction, visit goodwillhawaii.org/holiday.
