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Originally Posted by MichaelJ
As far as the product pricing goes, that again can vary widely between districts. Please try to remember we are a “mission driven enterprise”. The money we make is put back into job training and other programs to make our communities stronger and to give people a chance at a better life. As government programs shrink, Goodwill and other not for profits will be playing a more important roll in helping those who need a "hand up". Please continue to support us and other not for profits through your donations and purchases. We are really trying to help!
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Thanks for the post MichaelJ-- I think most of us appreciate what Goodwill Industries tries to do. It actually is one of my favorite charitable organizations, and I think it (and other similar organizations) are actually a much better deal for the general public (read: taxpayer) than many government programs. A couple years ago, an email-friend and I were discussing thrift stores, and I wrote the following (edited slightly) regarding Goodwill:
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I think Goodwill is a great model for a charitable organization, and I'll tell you why. Have you ever seen people ringing bells in front of supermarkets and Wal*Marts asking for coins for Goodwill? Probably not, no. Have you ever received a letter in the mail telling a sad, depressing story, asking for your generous cash donation to Goodwill Industries..? I bet you haven't. Why? That's because Goodwill appears to be designed to be essentially self-supporting.
It works using a simple economic cycle, and everyone in the cycle benefits.
(1) People donate used clothing, housewares, etc. to Goodwill. This is helpful to the donor, because it not only makes them feel good by helping others, but also helps them get rid of unneeded things that they might otherwise toss out in the trash or on the curb. Plus, the donor even has the option to request a contribution receipt from Goodwill, thus providing a possible income tax deduction (thus providing a small financial return to the donor).
(2) Goodwill then takes the donated goods, sorts them, distributes them to their retail stores. This process creates jobs, as people are needed to process the donated goods, drive the trucks, mark the selling prices, stock the shelves, man the cash registers, etc., etc. Goodwill staffs many of
these jobs with disadvantaged people, and this is great for those people,
since these jobs teach a lot of basic job skills that will help them become self-sufficient and be able to get a better-paying job elsewhere. At the same time, a job at Goodwill is rather 'safe' in that the environment lends itself well to success. [in other words, it's hard for someone to really screw up, and even if they do, it probably won't cause serious trouble.]
(3) Customers go to the store and buy the stuff from Step 1. With money. This helps the customer, because the customer gets something they need or
want, and usually for much less money than an equivalent new item would cost at a regular store.
(4) The money pays for the payroll (i.e. the jobs that were created in Step 2) and other store expenses (rent, utilities, taxes, etc).
(5) Go to Step 1.
And: Nobody gets a free ride at Goodwill. People who go to the store pay for the stuff they buy. This not only neatly eliminates the problem of people
trying to "game" the system to get something-for-nothing, but also relieves the truly needy from feeling embarrassed or guilty-- in other words, they don't have to feel like they're asking for a handout, because they're not. They're making a purchase-- they're paying money for the goods they receive. The people working at the store are getting paid, but they're holding a *job*-- this isn't "welfare". The store merchandise comes from people who donate goods. So, everyone in the cycle "pays" into it *and* gets something out of it-- whether they pay in cash (the customer), labor (the employee), or goods (the donor). In addition, the system can benefit the same people at both ends of the cycle. The same person who donates their old living room furniture to Goodwill can walk into the store and buy a
boombox and some shirts. There's no income requirement to shop at a Goodwill store-- it provides a useful resource to a wide variety of people-- from the low-income person trying to make ends meet, to the student who needs cheap furnishings for their dorm/apartment, to even the more financially-stable person looking for anything from collectibles to a household appliance. Everyone's money is equal at a Goodwill store! It's a charity that uses basic capitalistic principles to provide benefit to a wide scope of people.