Archive for February, 2009

Building Community in Pittsburgh with Goodwill Industries

Saturday, February 28th, 2009

Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Pennsylvania started in Pittsburgh in 1919. They currently serve southwestern Pennsylvania and north central West Virginia, helping people with jobs, clothes, cars and in other ways as well. They need donations, though, to be able to help people. That’s where you come in.

In Southwestern Pennsylvania, Goodwill Industries has over 20 regional stores and other businesses to bring in revenue to help support their local programs. To operate these stores and to bring in the revenue to support their programs for the less fortunate, they need donations - everything from clothes to couches to cars.

Like other Goodwill Industries locations around the county, Pennsylvania needs help. Donating a car will not only help you (by clearing out your garage and giving you a possible tax deduction), but it also helps people in the local community. Whether you live in Pennsylvania or somewhere else, Charity Dispatch can help you with the process of donating your car, an important part to Goodwill Industries in Pennsylvania.

The Goodwill Auto Auction is located at 75 Billot Ave, just off Route 30 in North Huntingdon, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Every Tuesday a new car auction is held. The car you donate may end up in the auction, made available to someone who could really use it. Not all Goodwill Industries locations have an auto auction, but the one in Pennsylvania has helped a lot of people over the years.

Sometimes it’s all about building community. You might not think that donating your old car could help build community, but organizations like Goodwill Industries and Charity Dispatch can use your car or vehicle donation to help people. They need someone to donate, though - cars, clothes, couches - whatever. Goodwill Industries in Southwestern Pennsylvania uses the donations to help people better their lives.

Posted in Other Chapters | 10 Comments »

West Central Florida Well Served by Goodwill Industries

Friday, February 27th, 2009

Goodwill Industries, which was started in downtown St. Petersburg, was brought to West Central Florida in October 1954. From humble beginnings helping people with disabilities get jobs, Goodwill Industries of Suncoast has grown, helping thousands of people each and every year. To support their efforts, they run 14 retail stores, three outlet stores and 29 Goodwill attended donation centers throughout West Central Florida.

Goodwill-Suncoast serves 10 counties in West Central Florida; Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Polk, Hernando, Marion, Citrus, Sumter, Levy and Highlands counties. Last year, they placed 29,829 people in jobs in the local Florida community and also served 77,039 people in other ways. That’s a lot of people. Helping that many people takes a lot of money.

R. Lee Waits, President and CEO of Goodwill-Suncoast, is dedicated to helping people in the region. They recently brought in over $27 million in revenue from their stores and salvage efforts. The money is used to help people in various ways - from job training to the Wheels-to-Work program. To get the money, though, they need donations.

Without people donating clothes and cars and other items, Goodwill Industries everywhere would be in trouble, less able to help people in their communities with the things that really matter. Without Goodwill Industries helping people become self-sufficient and upstanding members of society, the world would be worse off.

You might not think that the used car sitting in your garage could possibly help, but Goodwill-Suncoast and other Goodwill Industries locations use every little donation to raise the money they need to keep operating. Over 85% of the money they bring in goes back to the community. Charity Dispatch can help you donate your car to a Goodwill Industries location of your choice anywhere in the country - even Florida.

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Good Things at Goodwill Industries of Kentucky

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

In 1923, in the basement of Temple Methodist Church, Reverend John L. Fort established Goodwill Industries of Kentucky. Since then, they’ve gone through many changes and have helped a lot of people in various ways throughout the years. There wasn’t a need for car donations back when Goodwill Industries was brought to Kentucky, but times change.

Today, Goodwill Industries of Kentucky has 55 donation centers and stores in 34 counties. According to their website, 75% of residents in Kentucky live within 20 miles of a Goodwill store. Things like vehicle donations are used by Goodwill Industries (in Kentucky or anywhere else in the world) to help people who are making an effort to improve their life.

Sometimes the vehicles are sold at a discounted price to people in need while other times they’re auctioned off, with the proceeds helping people in other ways. No matter what happens to your vehicle donation, though, you’ll know it has helped someone in someway. That’s one thing that’ll remain the same no matter what Goodwill Industries store you visit - people are being helped.

At their annual awards ceremony on February 20, 2009, Roland R. Blahnik, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, said, “We want to take the time to recognize companies and individuals who have contributed to Goodwill’s success. The support of our fellow Kentuckians is instrumental to our ability to provide ongoing employment and training services throughout the Commonwealth.”

Good things are happening at Goodwill Industries of Kentucky. If you have a used car or truck to donate, it can go a long way in helping people all over the country no matter where you live. Charity Dispatch can make sure your vehicle donation goes to the Goodwill Industries of your choice, anywhere in the country - even Kentucky.

Posted in Other Chapters | 11 Comments »

Goodwill Industries at Work in East Central Ohio

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc. serves Geauga County, and Cuyahoga County, Ohio, as well as portions of Lake, Stark, Carroll, Jefferson, Harrison and Tuscarawas Counties. They also serve Brooke and Hancock Counties in West Virginia. They have several big events coming up in the next few months.

On March 11, 2009, Goodwill Industries’ President and CEO Ken Weber, will host a complimentary “getting to know you” lunch from noon to 1:00pm at 408 9th St SW in Canton, Ohio. To make a reservation call Marisa Rohn at 330-445-1030 or e-mail at mrohn@goodwillcanton.org.

On March 19, 2009, Goodwill Industries will be at Kent State Stark Professional Education and Conference Center from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. At this Report to the Community Breakfast, the community will be able to hear how Goodwill Industries helped families in 2008. For more information, contact Marisa Rohn at 330-445-1030 or e-mail her at mrohn@goodwillcanton.org.

On April 18, 2009, at the Tuscarawas County (Ohio) YMCA, the Second Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event takes place. The event is put together by COMPASS, Inc., a non-profit affiliate of Goodwill Industries. COMPASS is dedicated to providing crisis intervention and support for victims of sexual assault. They also have programs to prevent sexual assault through the promotion of community awareness and education in Tuscarawas County and Carroll County, Ohio.

Like other Goodwill Industries locations around the country, the people serving East Central Ohio accept donations - including vehicle donations. If you live in East Central Ohio and want to donate your car to charity, Charity Dispatch can help. There are a lot of families in need throughout East Central Ohio and donating your car to Goodwill Industries can help make a difference in at least one family’s life.

Posted in Other Chapters | 13 Comments »

The Things You Need to Donate Your Vehicle

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

If you’re thinking about donating your car or truck to help those in need, congratulations! If you’ve never been through the process before, there are things you need and some steps you should take. In order to help you with the process of donating your vehicle, here are some simple things to remember.

First of all, you should make sure you have all the necessary paperwork for the car - especially the title. If you haven’t driven the car in a while, this might be a problem if you can’t find the title. This is the single most important document you’ll need to donate your car, though. So, before you go any further, check to make sure you have the vehicle title.

If you don’t have the title for the vehicle for whatever reason, you’ll have to check with your state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles to see what the process is to get another title issued for the vehicle. You’ll most likely have to show proof of ownership. With a little work, you should receive a new title for your vehicle in a few weeks.

Once you have the title, the next thing you need is the value of the vehicle. You should use an accepted system of valuation like the Kelley Blue Book value of the car. If you’re unsure of how to find the value of your car, Kelly Blue Book has a website (www.kbb.com) that will help you determine the exact value of your car.

An important thing to note is that if you’re going to use the donation as a tax deduction, the laws changed a few years ago. You’ll want to make sure that you check into things and don’t declare the wrong value of the car. You can only claim what Goodwill Industries is able to get when selling the car from your taxes. You’ll need to wait until Goodwill Industries sells your car in order to determine what the final value of the vehicle is. (They will give you the paperwork that’s needed for this.)

Posted in Vehicle Donations | 14 Comments »

Goodwill Accepts Car Donations for Wheels-to-Work

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

Goodwill Industries helps a lot of people all over the United States. From providing affordable clothes and housewares to helping with job placement, they’re all about giving people a little help to make their lives better. Goodwill saw a need for people trying to better their lives - the need for reliable transportation. With that in mind, they created the Wheels-to-Work program.

There are qualifications that people wanting assistance with transportation need to have, so you can rest assured that any car you donate will be given to a family who needs it. From having a job to having car insurance, Goodwill makes sure those participating in their Wheels-to-Work program have everything they need to be on the road legally - and stay that way.

Donating your vehicle through a service like Charity Dispatch can help make the whole process easier for you. Working with Goodwill Industries, Charity Dispatch will help you with every step of the process when you donate your car. Don’t let a potentially confusing process stop you from donating your car.

Once you donate your car, it’s first checked out for any safety issues. Once it’s given a clean bill of health, it’s either given to a family in need (that passes the requirements for the Wheels-to-Work program) or auctioned off, with the proceeds going to help Goodwill Industries in other ways.

Giving your vehicle to the Goodwill Wheels-to-Work program is a great way to do your part to help your fellow humans. By working with Charity Dispatch, you can make sure the whole process is as pain free as possible. If you want to help someone out by donating your car, but you aren’t sure how to go about it - Charity Dispatch can help you through the whole process, making it easier than ever to donate your car to a good cause.

Posted in Programs, Vehicle Donations | 15 Comments »

Car Donation Mistakes you Should Avoid

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

If you or someone you know has had a bad experience with donating a car in the past, don’t let that stop you from donating your vehicle. It’s a simple act that could have a big positive impact on someone’s life. There are things that you should look for and be aware of when you’re donating a car, though. Here are some of the simple mistakes you should avoid when making a car donation.

Trust without Checking

It would be a great world if we could trust everyone we meet, but the sad fact is there are a lot of untrustworthy people in the world. Donating a vehicle (even if it’s old) is a big deal and shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you give your car to just anyone, you may be missing some benefits or even fall prey to a scam.

By working with a charity that deals with organizations like Goodwill Industries, you can be sure that you’re not going to get swindled. Also, by working with a licensed non-profit agency, your vehicle donation might lead to a nice tax deduction for you at the end of the year.

Devalue your Car

If you think your car is too old or otherwise not fit for donating, you might be surprised. Before paying someone to remove your car from your property, check with a car donation charity to make sure they wouldn’t be interested in the vehicle. You might be surprised with what they tell you.

A car that is “totally junk” in your eyes might be something that can be fixed up and give someone, maybe a whole family, a chance at making it in the world. Whatever the reason, sometimes people need help. You might think your car isn’t worth anything, but to others, it might mean the world.

Posted in Vehicle Donations | 12 Comments »

Why You Should Donate a Car to Charity

Friday, February 20th, 2009

If you have an extra car you don’t want anymore, there are options other than selling it. If you’ve never considered it before, donating a car to charity is one way to get rid of an extra car. You won’t get money for it, but there are other benefits to consider. Here are some reasons why you should donate a car to a charity like Goodwill Industries.

Tax Deductible

Donating a car to Goodwill Industries is a tax deductible contribution because they’re a non-profit organization. In the last few years, new laws have gone into place concerning donations of cars and tax deductions. From requirements for appraisals on vehicles to the total amount that you can claim, some things concerning donating vehicles for a tax deduction have changed over the years. You can rest assured that working with a company like Goodwill Industries, you’ll be taken care of and have the sometimes complicated process explained to you.

Making a Difference

Beyond the benefits you’ll receive from donating your car, the person who eventually receives the car will reap benefits as well. For all you know, your donation of a car might be the one thing that helps someone turn their life around. If you’ve ever wanted to make a difference in the world around you, donating a car to a charity like Goodwill Industries can go a long way in making someone’s life a lot better.

Feel Good

To be honest, one of the other reasons to donate your car is the feeling you get when helping others. An extra car may be no big deal to you, but for someone else, it could mean the world. You may never know who ends up getting your car, but you can be sure that if it’s a good charity, it’s going to go to someone who needs and deserves it. It’s a small thing, but the positive feelings you get from donating a car should be considered one of the benefits of donating your vehicle to a charity.