DECLUTTER AND DONATE TO GOODWILL® — DONORS GET TAX DEDUCTIONS AND HELP CREATE JOBS IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA

Families can start now to lower stress and get homes organized for 2016

Now is the time for families to clean out their homes and storage spaces to make room for this past holiday’s presents. There are more than 3,000 Goodwill stores across the United States and Canada that are ready to take donations and sell them in their stores. The revenue generated will fund job training programs and community-based support services for people with barriers to employment.

All Goodwill locations accept donations of clothing, household goods, electronics, computers and accessories, and furniture. Donors should verify what specific items their local Goodwill agency will accept before dropping them off.

“Many people find it difficult to part with their things, but once they do, they find they have alleviated a lot of stress by living in a more organized and neat environment,” said Lorie Marrero, Goodwill spokesperson, founder of the Clutter Diet® and contributing editor to Woman’s Day magazine. “Goodwill provides valuable community services by selling the items you no longer need. You get a tax deduction and experience the rewarding feeling that comes with helping others.”

Lorie has tips for helping people part with items they no longer need:

• Use the “One In, One Out Rule” to make room for new items. For every new gadget or sweater received, give one to Goodwill.
• Choose a problem area, like the kitchen or closet, and make it a start-of-year project to clean out.
• Help children learn the value of giving by organizing their toys and donating some they don’t play with any more to Goodwill.

Goodwill donors can calculate the positive impact of their donation with the Donation Impact Calculator. Users can choose their donations from the drop-down menu, and the calculator will display the impact of that donation on the community. For example, a donation of one bag of clothes provides one hour of résumé preparation assistance for someone who is looking for work and building a career.

“Goodwill provided critical job training services to nearly 10 million people last year,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “We could not have done this without the revenues generated at our stores, which all come from selling goods donated by others.”

Donations to Goodwill are tax deductible, but donors should make sure they get their receipts. They should also use reliable resources to help them estimate the value of their donations. Goodwill recommends the website www.charitydeductions.com.

Click here to find your nearest Goodwill retail and donation center.