GOODWILL HAWAII OPENS TWO NEW COMMUNITY DONATION SITES ON HAWAII ISLAND, PREPARES FOR RETAIL EXPANSION

HONOLULU – Goodwill Hawaii recently opened two new attended donation centers on Hawaii Island, located at the Keauhou Shopping Center (behind Regal Theaters) in Kailua-Kona and at the Island of Hawaii YMCA (300 W. Lanikaula Street, Hilo) as part of a new partnership. The additional donation sites are necessary to support the nonprofit organization’s retail expansion, which includes new stores opening in Kona and Waikoloa Plaza in the next six months.

Donations collected from the community are sold in Goodwill Stores on island and revenue generated help fund its free workforce development and placement programs providing for more than 2,500 Hawaii Island residents each year. Goodwill currently operates stores in Hilo, Kona and Pahoa.

“We are grateful to the Keauhou Shopping Center and the Island of Hawaii YMCA for providing us the opportunity to connect with their customers, members and other potential donors in their respective neighborhoods,” said Goodwill Hawaii president and CEO Katy Chen. “The new donation sites are the first step in being able to help boost our services on Hawaii Island. More donations generate more revenue in our stores, which ultimately means more funding to support our free community programs for island residents.”

Goodwill provides free job training, education, financial literacy and support services for people with employment barriers, including low-income families, people transitioning out of incarceration, adults with disabilities, at-risk youth, immigrants and others. The goal is to help them find work and/or earn higher paying wages and increase their financial independence.

“We’re pleased to partner with Goodwill Hawaii as their mission aligns with our core values of strengthening the community through programs and services that meet the critical needs of Hawaii’s people” said Wendy Botelho-Cortez, CEO of the Island of Hawaii YMCA. “Especially at a time when people continue to face the social and economic burdens from the pandemic, we’re committed to connecting our participants and members to services and resources that benefit their well-being, whether at the Y or other organizations like Goodwill.”

The Island of Hawaii YMCA serves a diverse community of people each year across the island through programs and services that enhance youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For more information about the Island of Hawaii YMCA, visit IslandofHawaiiYMCA.org.

Goodwill’s donation locations are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For a full list of stores and donation centers or to learn more about their programs, visit GoodwillHawaii.org.