topic Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash! in Community Chat

Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

FlowerBear — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 13:53:54 GMT

This is crazy! I started last year to donate to Salvation Army.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/woman-watched-goodwill-employee-toss-donations-into-dumpster-220222710.html

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

Lipstickdiva — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:00:49 GMT

Goodwill said they addressed the situation and disciplinary action has been taken.

I wonder why the woman watched her stuff get tossed into a dumpster rather than say something? I would have said something immediately and taken what I could back to donate elsewhere.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

wishmoon — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:01:21 GMT

I'm pretty sure Goodwill sells items given to them. I've seen ppl on eBay talking about the "finds" they get at Goodwill. I don't think the Salvation Army does, at least around here. I donate only good clothing, some in their original bags if they don't fit or I don't like. Once it's out of your hands, you may as well forget it, ppl will probably not donate them to victims of fire, theft or poverty, instead, they'll most likely be sold and the money will go into someone's pocket. I think that so I'm not surprised or concerned. Lots of times even organizations that started out with something good in mind are corrupt.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

wishmoon — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:03:21 GMT

The ppl running the organizations have first choice. Ugh, makes me not want to donate.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

proudlyfromNJ — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:05:04 GMT

I haven’t read the article, but I have seen some of the things people drop off when I am dropping off. Things that should have been trashed. Absolute garbage. I guess it’s easier to let Goodwill get rid of it than having it go in their own trash bin.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

goldensrbest — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:21:25 GMT

There is a yellow container ,we see alot of them here, planet is the first name ,can not remember the last word at moment, all donations i have read goes to a cult, i am so shocked by this. PLANET AID, is the name.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

JaneMarple — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:22:08 GMT

@goldensrbest wrote:
There is a yellow container ,we see alot of them here, planet is the first name ,can not remember the last word at moment, all donations i have read goes to a cult, i am so shocked by this.

It's NOT true, their name is Planet Aid!

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

Luvitorleaveit1 — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:22:58 GMT

Wow that is terrible indeed. I've never donated to Goodwill but I do donate tons of stuff to the United Veterans Association and a couple of others that pickup from my residence.

It would make more sense if they didn't need or want them to contact other charities nearby or shelters.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

MandyG06 — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:25:46 GMT

This was ONE Goodwill location, one isolated incident. Please don't think that all of the locations do this.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

millieshops — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:27:01 GMT

I don't think they are alone. Many of the thrift shops are so overwhelmed by the massive amounts of donations they've been receiving that they can't sell them - even sometimes at 50 cents for a garment. And you can pretty much forget about donating most books - they sell so cheaply and so rarely that the shops don't make any money on them once they pay their rent even when the workers in their shop are all volunters.

Over 5 years ago, I played cards in a club that met in a small strip shopping center. A thrift shop used the spacesd at either end of the strip. One was the sales room where everything was carefgully organized and I don't remember much at all over $1. The other larger room was filled almost to the ceiling in 4 or 5 rows of black bags of donations. And then the shop closed -- and all the merchandise in both sites went to waste management.

And since then we've had the get rid of it if you don't get joy from it movement. And the shop are even more filled. I need some black capris just for walking - I know in a few weeks, I'll be able to buy about 10 pairs for $1 for all of them - I expect to find something usable and redonate the rest although I doubt they really want them!

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

Ketra — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:31:43 GMT

I don’t care whether they addressed the problem or not. I’ll never, ever give another donation to them again. I thought it was strange that if you had a lot of furniture, or clothes in new or really good condition they wouldn’t even come to pick it up. Salvation Army will always pick up if you have a lot of donations. I will only give to Salvation Army in the future.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

goldensrbest — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:32:06 GMT

@JaneMarple wrote:
@goldensrbest wrote:
There is a yellow container ,we see alot of them here, planet is the first name ,can not remember the last word at moment, all donations i have read goes to a cult, i am so shocked by this.
It's NOT true, their name is Planet Aid!

I sure hope it is not true, i read it somewhere, check snopes,maybe that is where i read it.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

proudlyfromNJ — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:36:25 GMT

Salvation Army here will only pick up furniture if it is in very new condition and any wood furniture pieces must be real wood. Even if the furniture is wood, the inside shelves must be real wood also, not pressed wood.

They inspect very carefully.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

Carmie — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:40:59 GMT

This is not unusual. I have mentioned on the forums before that Good Will as well as Salvation Army and other places do not want old, outdated clothing or anything that is not in good usable condition.

They do not help poor people out by giving them your donated items. What they do is sell your donated items for cash. Cash is what they need and that is their goal.

Many people who shop in their retail centers are not poor people or those who are down and out. Most people have a job and are making a decent living and are looking for a bargain.

If you don't want something because it is too old or outdated and if it can't be sold by you or a consignment shop, no one else wants it either. These charities have to spend big money to dispose of donated items every year. They are wasting money to get rid junk donated when they could be using it to help people out.

Think twice before you donate unused items. If in doubt, throw it out.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

Gorgf — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:41:52 GMT

Yes, it is possible some clothing is indeed garbage that needs to be thrown. But? There are articles about the cost of the textile industry and the expense of the discarded clothing. Even the cost of the process of distressing and washing new jeans.

I have a problem getting rid of rags, old teeshirts and PJs.Not wearable any more. No one wants them. I called car repair places and one uses paper towels and the other uses a company and sends them to be laundered. I gave some to a neighbor who works on collector cars as a hobby. Salvation Army did say they would take them. We will see? I used to donate to the High School Shop classes when I taught there.

I live in a poor area and there are several places for selling used clothing, a place run by Special Needs adults and they also sell bird related items like suet balls and bird houses and feeders. Our Humane Society also has a thrift shop and I save the nice items for them. I had about six Dooney purses with the fabric logo I no longer used for example I gave to them.

I have always been leary of Goodwill as heard a few years ago the top management were not good people and greedy. Not sure exactly but it was going around to avoid going there???

JRT has commented about donating clothing to someone who can use them. She probably donates many shoes! LOL

With the rising costs of textiles and the expected tariff increase, maybe this will change and used clothing in greater demand.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

NickNack — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:43:17 GMT

@goldensrbest wrote:
@JaneMarple wrote:
@goldensrbest wrote:
There is a yellow container ,we see alot of them here, planet is the first name ,can not remember the last word at moment, all donations i have read goes to a cult, i am so shocked by this.
It's NOT true, their name is Planet Aid!
I sure hope it is not true, i read it somewhere, check snopes,maybe that is where i read it.

@goldensrbest @JaneMarple Look up Planet Aid on Charity Watch. It's not a good organization to donate to whether it's a cult or not.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

goldensrbest — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:45:57 GMT

@NickNack ,Thanks, they are all around here, at walmarts, in front of business.You see them everywhere.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

haddon9 — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:53:54 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
This is not unusual. I have mentioned on the forums before that Good Will as well as Salvation Army and other places do not want old, outdated clothing or anything that is not in good usable condition.

They do not help poor people out by giving them your donated items. What they do is sell your donated items for cash. Cash is what they need and that is their goal.

Many people who shop in their retail centers are not poor people or those who are down and out. Most people have a job and are making a decent living and are looking for a bargain.

If you don't want something because it is too old or outdated and if it can't be sold by you or a consignment shop, no one else wants it either. These charities have to spend big money to dispose of donated items every year. They are wasting money to get rid junk donated when they could be using it to help people out.

Think twice before you donate unused items. If in doubt, throw it out.

@Carmie I totally agree.

Just because someone had old stuff to donate doesn't mean that Goodwill or any other charitable organization whats your old junk. It costs them money and labor to sort though all of that stuff and I wouldn't be surprised if they got a lot of dirty smelly stuff too....they don't have the time or resources to clean items and make them presentable.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

Carmie — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:54:07 GMT

@Gorgf My husband restores old cars and does bodywork and paints them as well. He is always looking for rags and uses old clothing torn up.

The problem is that today's clothing is mostly polyester or a blend of cotton with polyester and not usable for this purpose.

Clothing made from natural fibers can be recycled, polyester plastic clothing ends up in the landfills where it will stay well into the next century.

i was was a child, there was man who would go door to door to pick up old unusable clothing. He was called the rag man. You never see that anymore.

Re: Goodwill throws Donations in Trash!

SunValley — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 17:07:32 GMT

I live in a neighborhood with 6 donation groups (and numerous drop off boxes sitting in strip mall parking lots). Every donation center has large trash containers and ones for recycle. Over the years of dropping off donations, I have seen a lot of junk. I know several organizations give their employees first pick and they pay for the items according to an acquaintance who worked at several of them. This is part of their compensation to supplement the low rate of pay and is helpful considering dire circumstances that many of these hard workers are trying to overcome.