Recycle by donating: An eco-friendly way to give

There are many ways to live a more eco-friendly life. Some people take big steps by installing solar panels on their roofs or by collecting rainwater for personal use. But there are also small steps you can take to be green and help the community at the same time. After you’ve cleaned out your home and closets this spring, donate the items you no longer want to Goodwill Industries of Central Florida.

Goodwill accepts your gently used clothing and household items. We then sell them in our stores, and the revenues fund Goodwill’s job-training programs, employment-placement services and other community-based services for people with disabilities, those who lack education or job experience, and others facing challenges when looking for employment. In 2010, 3,800 Central Floridians were placed in competitive jobs and the economic impact of Goodwill’s placement totaled more than $65 million.

For more than 100 years, Goodwill has been an environmental pioneer, committed to preserving the environment and strengthening the community. The simple act of donating the items you no longer want provides the critical career services to help someone earn a job and provide for his or her family. Goodwill helps people like the single parent with three children who is working on earning a GED, the person with a disability who wants to live independently, and countless others who want to earn a paycheck and feel the pride and independence that supporting themselves brings.

So, the next time you are deciding what to do with the items you no longer need, consider the environment and donate them to Goodwill. The books you donate could mean a chance for a single mom to take a free computer skills course. Your gently used business suit could help provide the job counseling services a veteran needs to find employment after his or her tour of duty ends. Your child’s outgrown clothing can help your unemployed neighbor learn new skills to start a different career.

To find your nearest Goodwill donation center, go to www.goodwill.org or call 800-741-0186.

William G. (Bill) Oakley is president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Florida.