Simply amazing. There’s really no other way to describe the incredible success of the ongoing Horizon Goodwill/Bon-Ton Sales Event. I recently spoke with Horizon Goodwill’s Manager of Marketing & Community Relations Deb Carbaugh and she wanted me to convey her appreciation to everyone who has stopped by with their donations, receiving a very special discount for new Bon-Ton merchandise. As regular readers of this blog, you know I’m a very curious guy. This conversation with Deb led me to do a little digging involving how the clothing donated at the Bon-Ton really impacts our local communities, and what I found is very impressive, to say the least!
Why Is The Horizon Goodwill Bon-Ton Sales Event Scheduled Every Spring & Fall?
The first question that entered my mind was why the twice annual Horizon Goodwill/Bon-Ton Sales Event was always scheduled in the Fall (September) and the Spring (March) each year. I mean, wouldn’t it make more sense to collect clothing donations in the summer, when theoretically there is more free time to not only go through your drawers and closet, but bring those unwanted items to The Bon-Ton? Well, as they say, you know what happens when you assume!
Based on my research, September is a perfect time to collect donations for several reasons; here’s just a few:
- All of those new “Back To School” clothes end up taking over valuable closet space, which leads to last year’s fashions being donated to Goodwill!
- What is hot on the heels of September? The holiday buying season, of course! Donating your clothes not only makes more room for those items on your wish list, but acts as a subtle reminder to friends and family members that some new threads would make great holiday gifts!
I’m sorry, what did you just ask? Spring? Well, everyone knows those spring cleaning instincts tend to kick in right around mid-March. This is a perfect time to donate your gently used, unwanted clothing and receive some amazing discounts on new summer fashions!
- Spring is the perfect time to donate last year’s styles for the newest, trendiest shorts, swimming suits and summer dresses!
- Who wouldn’t like up to 25% off of the latest, coolest summer fashions? This is the perfect time to spice up your wardrobe.
How Does Donating Gently Used Clothing To Horizon Goodwill Help Your Neighborhood?
I have this habit of doodling on a scratchpad when I’m on the phone. I don’t know why, but ever since I was a teenager talking on the phone to my girlfriend, I would always just start scribbling while listening to the voice on the other end. (Note To My Wife! No, I don’t do this when you call me at work, you have my undivided attention!)
The day after my phone call with Deb I looked down at my notepad and saw that I had written some really impressive statistics. I emailed Deb my discovery, just to confirm that they were actual figures and not the result of a wavering hand. She concurred—and what this data reveals is astounding!
Since September of 2006 over 450,000 pounds of clothing has been donated during the Horizon Goodwill Bon-Ton Event! Can you imagine if that quantity of material ended up in a landfill rather than on the shelves at our local Horizon Goodwill stores? It boggles the mind, doesn’t it? Wait, it gets even more impressive…
In 2013, the latest stats available regarding the purchase of Bon-Ton Coupons (yes, if you’d rather make a cash donation instead of donating clothing, you can purchase these incredible discount coupons at any register!) was over $12,000. So what does all of this really mean? Nearly 90% of the profits from all sales at Horizon Goodwill stores is used to fund job training programs for community members with barriers to employment. Really cool, but it becomes even cooler when you visit this website: www.donate.goodwill.org. Here I was able to actually enter a sampling of items my daughter recently donated and discovered she was personally responsible for providing 2.5 hours of job training! Go ahead, try it out! It’s fun, easy, informative and, best of all, it shows you the real benefits resulting from your donations!