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Coronavirus: Is Goodwill accepting donations?

By Brianna Chambers, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Goodwill donations Goodwill Industries of Greater Washington employee Edward Hawkins unloads bags of donated goods at a drop-off point December 30, 2005 in Arlington, Virginia. Charity organizations like Goodwill see a surge in donations at the end of the calendar year before the tax deduction deadline. With 84-percent of its $2.39 billion in revenue going to fund social benefit programs and services, Goodwill helped place 104,010 people in jobs outside the organization in 2004. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

By Brianna Chambers, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

As businesses across the U.S. reopen in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, local officials are calling on leaders to enforce safety guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.

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Among the stores opening their doors are some Goodwill facilities and donation centers.

According to the nonprofit organization, more than half of all Goodwill donation centers have reopened. The retail stores are reopening regionally in accordance with state and local guidelines.

While Goodwill insists it “absolutely needs your donations” right now, the organization has changed the way it will accept donated items.

Goodwill facilities are enforcing new safety procedures that aim to minimize or eliminate contact between employees and donors. The organization is encouraging donors to place items in their car trunks so that employees can retrieve items on their own. Employees will wear face coverings while working.

Another process allows for a simple self-serve, contactless donation drop-off.

Hours for drop-offs vary by location.

Goodwill stores will implement more stringent cleaning procedures, and employees are encouraged to enforce social distancing policies to keep shoppers six feet apart. Some stores will limit the number of customers who can be inside the building at one time. Workers will wear masks and gloves inside stores, and glass separators will be placed at registers.

In outheastern Wisconsin, where most Goodwill stores and donation centers have opened, all retail employees will have their temperatures taken by a manager before their shifts begin, Greater Milwaukee Today reported.

Goodwill said it will store donations “for a period of time” before employees handle them and they are placed in stores for sale. According to GM Today, that period of time is 72 hours.

Shoppers and prospective donors can find out if their closest Goodwill location is open and accepting items here.



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