Donating to Goodwill Every 42 seconds of every business day, someone gets a job - and comes closer to achieving personal and financial independence thanks to Goodwill and you. We believe that all people, regardless of situation, should have access to meaningful employment. Goodwill SCC is committed to transforming your donations, whether they are donations of gently used items, services, time, or money, into job training and placement services for individuals with barriers to employment. Through your donations, Goodwill SCC is able to provide re-use and recycle programs that in 2013 kept over 1 million pounds of materials out of the landfill and helped to sustain individuals, communities, and the environment. Regardless of how you contribute, we are grateful for your support!
Where to Donate We accept donations at all of our retail locations in St Clair County. Our convenient drive up donation centers, located in Algonac, Fort Gratiot, Marysville, and Port Huron, are staffed 7 days a week to accept your gently used items. Our friendly and knowledgeable Donation Center Attendants can assist you with your donations and issue you a tax deductible donation receipt. Schedule a Home Pick-up Goodwill SCC does offer limited pick-up service in the St Clair County area for large items. However, our truck drivers are prohibited from entering your house for our protection and yours. Call 810-987- 9333 to schedule a time. What to Donate Thank you for donating to Goodwill SCC. The revenue generated from your donations of clothing and household items is channeled directly back into our mission of providing work opportunities and skill development for people with barriers to employment. Please be sure to donate items that are in good or working condition. When we
receive items that are not saleable in our stores or online auctions (broken, damaged, pieces missing, safety hazards) we must dispose of them, raising our expenses and reducing the revenue available for our Work Force Development Department to provide skill development for people with barriers to employment. If we cannot accept your donation, we will help you locate an organization that will. Donor Tips and Guidelines Your generous donations are very important to Goodwill SCC. As a general rule, when deciding what to donate to Goodwill, give what you would give to a friend or relative. To make your donation process go smoothly and to ensure that you are donating items Goodwill SCC can sell in our stores and online auctions, here are some tips for checking the items you plan to donate: Check your items before donating to ensure they are items you intend to donate. Our sorting process starts as the Donation Center Attendant unloads your car. In most cases if a donation is much more than an hour or two old, finding it in its entirety will be almost impossible, or it may have already been sold.
Check pockets of clothing for jewelry, money, or other valuables that you may not intend to donate. This includes pieces of identification such as driver s licenses, social security cards, or checkbooks. Please wash clothing, remove all hangers, and keep it separated in bags/boxes from household items like shoes, books, accessories Check to make sure the items you are donating are not soiled, stained, ripped, or wet. Test electrical equipment and battery-operated items to make sure they work Include all pieces and parts to games, puzzles, toys, and small household appliances Please do not leave items unattended outside our stores, donation centers, or drop boxes. Unattended donations are often damaged, vandalized, stolen, and draw the ire of locale municipalities. Please do not donate items that have been recalled, banned, or do not meet current safety standards.
What we accept Clothing, Outerwear Pairs of shoes & Footwear Purses, Belts, Accessories Jewelry & Watches Antiques & Collectibles Hardcover & Softcover Books CDs, VHS tapes, DVDs Games, Toys, Puzzles Linens, Towels, Rugs Kitchen items, Housewares Artwork, Posters, Mirrors What we cannot accept Large Appliances Anything with Freon Auto parts, Tires Anything containing Gas, Oil, Kerosene Paint, Chemicals Batteries Building Materials Sinks, Toilets, Bathtubs Carpeting Doors, Screens, Windows Car Seats, Baby Cribs Sports Equipment Portable Musical Instruments Computers Stereos, VCRs, Craft & Hobby Supplies Small Working Appliances Small Working Electronics Working Tools Quality Furniture Working Vehicles, Boats, Trailers and More Water Beds, Inflatable Pools Televisions Pianos, Organs Poisonous, Hazardous Materials Fire Arms, Ammunition Halogen Floor Lamps Sexual Paraphernalia Magazines, Newspaper Broken or Damaged Furniture Anything wet or mildewed Anything rusty or flammable Of course there are exceptions to these guidelines; Brand new items still in the packaging will most likely be accepted.
Commercial & Special Donations Does your store have overstock or clearance items that are taking up too much space? Commercial donations are also a way to develop a beneficial partnership between your business and Goodwill SCC. Partnering with Goodwill helps companies give something back to the community in which they do business, while providing support to a recognized and respected charity. Your participation allows for an easy way to handle unwanted merchandise while profiting from tax deductions. Donating to Goodwill can be beneficial to your business and has great rewards to the community. Goodwill SCC will utilize your donation to support our efforts to break down barriers to employment and independence and assist persons who are disabled or disadvantaged to help them start independent lives. The following are greatly appreciated: Surplus merchandise
Merchandise returns Seasonal merchandise Obsolete merchandise Miss-Matched items Scratch and Dents Store fixtures Business equipment How does your business benefit? Utilize your valuable space for faster moving merchandise Save money and valuable storage space Receive deductible tax donation benefits Enhance business image by being a Goodwill Partner Items donated are used to develop a workforce that may help your business Help the environment by recycling merchandise
Valuation & Claiming Your Tax Deductions If you itemize deductions on your federal tax return, you are entitled to claim a charitable deduction. Goodwill SCC issues receipts at the time of your donation. You as a donor are responsible for maintaining all tax records, as well as for assigning values to goods contributed. You should list items donated, and provide a general description for each item. Taking pictures or making a video of your garage sale can also be helpful. It is recommended that you consult your tax professional, for limitations and IRS documentation pertaining to your individual tax situation. Please utilize guide to determine merchandise donation for average price ranges as a guide in determining the value of your donation. Values are based on items in good condition and may vary by market.
Planned Giving There are many ways to make a lasting gift to Goodwill. One of the most common ways is through a will or living trust. Many people set aside a certain dollar amount they want to leave to Goodwill. Others leave a percentage of their estate or assets. Some simply choose to designate Goodwill Industries of West Michigan as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement plan. There are many other ways to give such as stock, real estate, bequests, financial accounts, retirement plans, and more. Contact your professional financial advisor to find out how you can receive the maximum tax and legal advantage for your gift. Vehicle Donations Workers On Wheels A lack of reliable transportation is the #1 barrier for many people in seeking or maintaining employment. Through our Workers On Wheels (WOW) program, we procure donated vehicles, make any required repairs and then award them to qualified candidates.
A distribution committee made up of our community partners selects the applicants they feel will make the best possible use of your donated vehicle. Each WOW recipient participates in a vehicle maintenance class and receives assistance in obtaining child safety seats as needed. We Accept: Cars Trucks Vans Recreational Vehicles Boats Why Donate: An average of 57 families per year have been placed on the road to selfsufficiency since 2003 94% have successfully maintained employment Vehicles used in the program provide the donor the highest tax incentives allowed by the IRS Your donation remains local - help a neighbor get to work! FREE pick up available at your convenience - evening and weekend hours available by appointment All tax documentation is provided to you by Goodwill Who We Serve: All vehicle recipients have successfully completed job-training opportunities leading to successful employment. Every effort is made
to ensure the group makes the best possible use of the generous contributions made by our donors. How To Donate: Click here to access the donation form. Tax Incentives: Tax law established by the American Jobs Creation Act has placed certain restrictions on how much you can expect to receive from donating your vehicle to charity. Beginning January 1, 2005 taxpayers were told they could only deduct the proceeds that charity gets from the sale of the vehicle instead of the fair market value they were accustomed to in the past. Donors must receive a written acknowledgement from the charity that includes the sale price of the vehicle. In some cases, the donator is limited to using that figure as their tax incentive. However, if the charity uses the car for a charitable purpose, such as Goodwill's Workers On Wheels (W.O.W.) program, the donor may continue to deduct the fair market value of the vehicle. Additionally, donors in Michigan can take advantage of a tax credit of up to $100 for their contribution to a program like Workers On Wheels. Because the vehicles used for the W.O.W. program are provided to individuals for the purpose of gaining or maintaining employment at a cost well below the actual value, donors may continue to deduct the private party fair market value. For additional information, contact the Internal Revenue Service. However, if the charity uses the car for a charitable purpose, such as Goodwill's Workers On Wheels (W.O.W.) program, the donor may continue to deduct the fair market value of the vehicle. Because the vehicles used for the W.O.W. program are provided to individuals for the purpose of gaining or maintaining employment at a cost well below
the actual value, donors may continue to deduct the private party fair market value. For additional information, contact the Internal Revenue Service. Host a donation Drive Sponsoring a donation drive is good for both your Company/Group and your team members. Promotion of donation drives show that your company/group is involved and committed to the community. If your group meets monthly, this would be a great year-long project. Pick an item for your members to bring each month and collect. Spread throughout the year it is quite inexpensive for everyone. But what a major impact this outcome has on many people s lives. And best of all - the great feeling that accompanies doing a good deed!