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Horizon Goodwill Industries

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Social Media Contest: Goodwill is Here, Time to #SpringClear!

For the next 6 weeks Horizon Goodwill Industries will be asking YOU to submit all of your de-clutter and organizational triumphs around your home. We want to see before and after de-clutter pictures: pre- and post-spring cleaning of your closets, garages, dens, living rooms, laundry rooms – any place in your home that you can think of that needs a little TLC.

Enter your before and after pictures to enter starting March 10th!
Enter your before and after pictures starting March 10th!

Please send these pictures to us via Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #SpringClear for a chance to win one of 3 prizes. First place will win a $100 dollar gift certificate to our stores! Second place will win a $50 dollar gift certificate and third place will win $25 dollar gift certificate. All winners will also walk away with a Clutter Diet book that is full of ways to prevent clutter and organizational tips from Goodwill’s very own spokeswoman Lorie Marrero!

We will take submissions March 10th – April 21st and the winners will be announced April 28th 2014.

Entries will be judged on the number of likes, shares and re-tweets plus how well our contestants de-cluttered their space.

Now that you have a de-cluttered casa it’s time to donate all your unwanted items that didn’t make the cut! Donate to Horizon Goodwill Industries. Your newly de-cluttered home can provide job training to the community. Everyone wins when you donate to Horizon Goodwill Industries. We have donation centers located in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Please follow this link to find the closest donation location to you. #SpringClear

We are excited to see all of your home makeovers!

How to Setup a Donation Station

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We’re nearing the end of February already — how far have you come with your New Year’s resolutions? Was one of yours to kick the clutter and get organized in 2014? How much progress have you made?

If you’re having trouble getting rid of those unwanted items lying around, consider creating a donation station at home. Here’s how it works. Whether you’re plowing through your packed-to-the-brim closet or getting rid of toys in the kids’ rooms, collect any items you’re willing to donate in an empty box or paper bags. Set up your station somewhere out of the way, like a closet, the garage or a space that’s rarely used. When your container is full, put it in the car and drop it off at your local Horizon Goodwill Industries location the next time you’re out running errands.

Donating things you don’t use to Goodwill® is so easy, but it leaves such a HUGE impact!

  • You’re achieving your goals of being better organized.
  • You have a great new space ready for other projects.
  • You have less clutter to maneuver around.
  • You are fueling job-training programs that impact your community.
  • Your donations are tax deductible.

When you donate to Goodwill, we put 90 percent of all revenue generated into job training programs and services for people who need them. Powered by your donations, our free services help people who want to work but have barriers to employment, like disabilities. By keeping our administrative cost low, we can use more value of your donations to help others find and keep a job.

So, get started today on your own donation station, and see what impact your donations can leave on your community. Click here to find out what items we gladly accept or here to see our store locations and hours of operation.

10 Ideas for Random Acts of Kindness

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Have a co-worker or teacher who’s impacted your life significantly? Write them a thank-you letter this week in honor of Random Acts of Kindness Week. (Photo Credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

This week marks International Random Acts of Kindness Week. All across the country, people are stepping outside of their comfort zones to pass acts of kindness on to others. At Horizon Goodwill Industries, we believe in inspiring hope and humanity in others, so naturally we’re excited to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week. We hope you consider paying it forward this week as well. Here are 10 easy ideas to get you started.

  1. Compliment the first three people you speak to today.
  2. Write a positive message to someone who’s having a tough time and needs extra encouragement.
  3. Each time you buy something new, donate something old or unwanted to Horizon Goodwill. Your donations help people in your community who want to work, but have barriers to employment, achieve success.
  4. Write a thank-you note to someone who deserves appreciation — a teacher, a parent, a friend, a co-worker or a career counselor, for example.
  5. Buy a surprise gift for a loved one from Goodwill®. Not only are you making the day of someone special, but Horizon Goodwill puts 90 cents of every dollar spent in our stores right back into job training and programs for people with disabilities.
  6. Leave an inspirational bookmark in your library book for the next person who borrows it to read.
  7. Say “please” and “thank you” — and really mean it!
  8. Volunteer to help a friend. This can be anything from walking their dog on the weekend to practicing job interview skills for an upcoming interview.
  9. Put a quarter in a parking meter that has expired.
  10. Copy one of your favorite recipes and give it to a co-worker.

How are you supporting Random Acts of Kindness Week? Share your ideas and stories in the comments below or on our Facebook page. Be sure to use the hashtag #RAKweek.

Celebrate American Heart Month with Horizon Goodwill Industries

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Photo Credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Each year, about 600,000 people die from heart disease in the U.S. Throughout the month of February, Horizon Goodwill Industries invites our shoppers and donors to join millions of people across the country in supporting American Heart Month. As part of the initiative, the American Heart Association encourages everyone to commit to a healthier lifestyle and help spread the message that heart disease is a huge risk for many people, especially women. Here are a few ways you can celebrate American Heart Month with the help of Horizon Goodwill Industries.

  • Go Red! On the first Friday in February every year, National Wear Red Day raises awareness about heart disease being the No. 1 killer of women. Help show your support and spread awareness on Feb. 7 for National Wear Red Day. Join the movement by shopping any of our Horizon Goodwill locations for red gear — shirts, dresses, scarves and more — to sport your support. You can also donate to the movement here.
  • Walk Instead of Driving. Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight while lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day. Instead of jumping in your car to visit your local Goodwill® store, call up a friend and walk there together. Walking is enjoyable, free, easy, and a good, social exercise. Plus, you’ll have plenty of awesome finds waiting for you at our stores for motivation.
  • Plan for Prevention. The best way to help reduce your risk of heart disease is by leading a heart-healthy lifestyle. In addition to daily exercise to fight off health conditions attributed to obesity, consider quitting smoking, eating foods lower in salt, cholesterol and trans-fat, monitoring your blood pressure and cholesterol, maintaining a healthy weight, and taking your medications as prescribed by your doctor. Be sure to consult with your healthcare professional if you have any questions about how to best take care of your heart.

To learn more about heart disease or make a donation to the American Heart Association in honor of American Heart Month, click here.

Goodwill Needs Donations Now

Horizon Goodwill Industries is urging people to donate gently used clothing and other items to their nearest Goodwill retail store or donation center. You can locate the nearest donation site at http://www.horizongoodwill.org/donate/donate-locations/. We are seeing the effects of the modestly growing economy and our shoppers are eager to find great items at a good price. Our donations are not keeping pace with the demand. This time of year we do experience a slight drop in donor activity due to winter weather, but we are asking for your help. This year it is especially needed due to the numerous weather events we have seen in the first five weeks of 2014.

Goodwill needs donations now to support job training.
Goodwill needs donations now to support job training.

“Donations to Goodwill allow us to provide job training and career services to people with disabilities, welfare recipients, dislocated workers and other job seekers,” says Craig MacLean, President and CEO of Horizon Goodwill Industries. “Last year, we helped more than 2,000 people with job training and job placement – the community’s support is vital to this effort.” The increase in shoppers means that Goodwill can help even more people in the community.

Items most wanted right now include:

All types of gently used clothing and other textiles: coats, shoes, boots, shirts, blouses, jeans, sweaters, business suits, dresses, skirts, sweat suits, towels, sheets, and blankets. Also needed are various household items, including small kitchen appliances, glassware, dishes, and knick-knacks.

Goodwill has spent decades earning the public’s trust. Donors can rest assured that their items are going to a reputable organization that has the community’s interests at heart. Donated goods are sold in Goodwill stores and online, and more than 90 percent of revenues earned go to fund critical job training, career services and other supports that put people to work, strengthen families and build stronger communities. The more you donate, the more Goodwill can help.

Goodwill teaches the skills needed to get – and keep – jobs. Better still, they help fund these programs through your generous donations. The money Goodwill earns from your donated goods funds programs that help people right here in our community find jobs and achieve economic self-sufficiency.

To find the location nearest you, call (800) 435-2480, or visit http://www.horizongoodwill.org/donate/donate-locations/

10 Tips for Shopping at Horizon Goodwill Industries

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On the hunt for one-of-a-kind treasures, or steals and deals on gently used clothing or household items? At any of Horizon Goodwill Industries’ 16 store locations, you can save money while scoring awesome finds and helping people within your community. To help you get the most out of your Goodwill® hunting adventures, here are 10 thrifty tips for navigating our stores.

1. Have a Plan…

With so many items available, the large selection can sometimes be overwhelming. To alleviate the stress and keep you from over buying, know what you’re looking for before you visit our stores.

2. … But Be Open Minded

You never know what you might find at Goodwill. If you see something you weren’t planning to buy but absolutely can’t live without, then snag it up! At Goodwill, a good buy won’t stay on the shelves long. If you change your mind and return later, it could be gone.

3. The Early Bird Gets the Worm

Because our inventory is constantly changing, shop early in the day for the best selection on unique merchandise.

4. Don’t Stop at Just One

With 16 unique store locations throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia, our stores are loaded with rare and unique finds. Visit them all for more discoveries.

5. Dress Comfortably

Shopping at Goodwill means you’ll be searching through racks of clothing and other items. Consider wearing comfortable or casual clothes, walking shoes and leave the big, burly coat in the car.

6. Always Try on Clothing

Just because it’s a great deal on one of your favorite designers doesn’t mean it will fit well. Before making any needless purchases that will only clutter your closet, try it on.

7. Get Creative

When thrift shopping, think of new, creative ways to repurpose items you find. Sheets can transform into beautiful curtains, and old furniture can be revamped into modern, original pieces.

8. Bring Cash

When you’re armed with money instead of a credit or debit card, you’re more likely to stick to a budget and be more selective with your purchases. You’re less likely to buy things you don’t need, drain your checking account or fill your home with useless items.

9. Cut the Clutter

Once you are home with your new purchases, keep the clutter to a minimum by selecting items from your closet or kitchen that you no longer want or need — or that you replaced with your new purchases — and put them aside to donate to Goodwill the next time you go shopping!

10. Good for Your Wallet, Good for Your Community

Shopping at Horizon Goodwill is not only easy on your wallet — every dollar you spend benefits the community you live in and care about. Giving or receiving items from Goodwill is fun and shows you care about your community.

What advice do you have for shopping at Goodwill? Share your experiences in the comments below.

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