Goodwill Industries® of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Inc. (Goodwill NYNJ) held a grand opening ceremony yesterday, complete with a ribbon cutting and local elected officials in attendance. The event celebrated the official opening of its first Mini Shop & Donation Drop in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The Mini Shop & Donation Drop is a smaller version of the traditional Goodwill stores and donation centers, offering a curated selection of pre-loved donated goods, such as home décor, books, glassware, knick-knacks, and other unique finds. This 1,000-square-foot Goodwill location is a sustainability resource for Upper East Siders to reuse and repurpose clothing and goods they no longer need.
In 2022, Goodwill NYNJ helped people in the region to reuse more than 38 million pounds of pre-loved clothing and home goods, successfully diverting them from landfills, and saving
According to the Aug. 21, 2023 Earth.Org article, “10 Concerning Fast Fashion Waste Statistics, “of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tons end up in landfills. To put things in perspective, this means that the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of clothes ends up on landfill sites every second.”
“We designed our new Mini Shop & Donation Drop locations thinking of community-minded and environmentally-conscious neighbors who seek easy and convenient ways to give a second life to the clothing and goods they no longer need,” said Katy Gaul-Stigge, Goodwill NYNJ President and CEO. “This smaller format concept is perfect for donors on the go –stop by, drop your donations, and check unique finds to gift this Holiday season.”
Goodwill NYNJ generates revenue from various retail locations, such as stores, outlets, attended donation centers, and the online site ShopGoodwill.com/NYNJ. The proceeds from these locations support the organization’s training, job connections, on-the-job coaching, and retention services, which aid individuals with disabilities and other barriers in finding employment and improving their lives and those of their families. The organization also provides behavioral health services that help individuals with mental health conditions stay healthy and productive at work, thereby reducing the need for psychiatric hospitalization.
In 2022, Goodwill NYNJ provided services to over 9,000 underemployed or unemployed individuals, with half of them being people with disabilities. In the past year, the organization helped 1,042 individuals find new jobs, including 565 people with disabilities. This represents a 27% increase from the previous year, and the jobs were located outside of Goodwill NYNJ stores, in various sectors such as health care, tech and accounting, warehousing and manufacturing, and NYC agencies.
By donating their usable belongings to Goodwill stores, UES residents contribute to the organization’s mission and help support the community.
