By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
It’s that time of the year when people start thinking about a fresh start in the coming new year. Some people think ahead to tax time.
The last few days of the year brings in hundreds locally and thousands across the northwestern part of North Carolina to Goodwill for last- minute tax-deductible donations.
It’s estimated that the amount of donations are up by 50 percent from November to December, said Sharon Grubb, district manager for Salisbury and six other Goodwill stores.
Amy Bostian, manager of the Salisbury Goodwill store, said the last couple of days they’ve received hundreds of donations.
On a normal Wednesday, about 70 donations usually come in to Goodwill. This year, the last Wednesday of December, there were 65 donations before noon.
Typically December 30 and 31 are the biggest days. A large wave of donations came in to the store Monday and Tuesday, she said.
On Monday, the store received 200 donations. Usually the store gets about 90 donations.
“It’s the last day and they are thinking about a tax credit. They are clearing out the clutter after Christmas time,” Bostian said.
The end of the year brings with it lots of furniture donations and clothing donations, she said.
Bostian explains many people receive these items for Christmas presents and donate their old items.
They’ve already received some furniture this week. Bostian said someone donated recliners earlier this week.
Misenheimer resident Sherry Day was one of those donors.
“We are remodeling our living room and my husband, Donnie, always tries to get me to purge,” she said.
Day said she donates often to Goodwill.
About 250 to 300 customers walk into the Goodwill store Thursday through Saturday.
“People come in who are addicted to Goodwill,” Bostian said.
The store receives lots of requests for walkers and other medical equipment, also vases and other dishware. Many antique dealers shop at Goodwill, searching for that rare find.
Hannah Moon, of Kannapolis, is a frequent customer and donor of Goodwill.
“I come about three or four times a month,” she said.
Moon works in Salisbury and usually finds something to donate when she’s cleaning out her closets. She’s also purchased items at Goodwill.
She gets excited to talk about the bargains and name brand buys she’s gotten, many with the original tags still affixed to the garment.
Moon argues, “why throw something away when someone else can use it.”
She urges everyone to give because of where the money from their donations or items bought at the store ends up.
Money spent in the store goes to fund local programs, specificially 89 cents of every dollar.
Bostian says every donation is different, but it counts. She is quick to let people know their donation will help someone get employed or teach someone a new skill.
“It starts from a child who gives up a toy. They donate it and another child comes here and gets that toy,” she said.
The money funds the Career Connections Center, located 1923 S. Main St., Salisbury.
The services, which include resume writing, job searching and interviewing skills, are free.
When Nancy Rominger, coordinator of the Career Connections progam, facilitates workshops she explains to people that their dollars are, “supplying funds for our center so we can help people find a job or change jobs.”
Goodwill also has a program called E-Waste, where old or used computers help teach people how to rebuild and repair computers.
“They can be wrecks or good. We take them to Winston-Salem and tear them a- part,” Rominger said.
Career Connections also partners with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to teach basic and intermediate computer skills, and medical terminology.
The money also helps provide people with disabilities employment as well as teach them independent living skills, vocational and social development.
A new program, Project Re-entry helps people who are newly released from prison re-enter society. The program teaches them life skills and helps them find jobs so that they won’t return to prison.
There are more than 50 attended donation centers in northwestern North Carolina.
There are four in Rowan County ó two in Salisbury, one in China Grove and Rockwell.
Donation centers are open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., every day.
For more information about Goodwill, visit www.goodwillnwnc.org. For more information about Career Connections, contact the local center at 704-638-6434.