Stolen Donations From Goodwill
By: Maria Oliver
Updated: March 23, 2009
While many people graciously donate to the Goodwill, some donations are made after hours leaving those items by the front door and Goodwill says, they might not see those donations."The problem is that people sometimes donate to us after hours and unfortunately when you leave something on the back porch or on the front porch of one of our stores we don't see those donations," says Goodwill Executive Director Jim Tredennick.
One family was having dinner at Sonic on Barrow Street on Sunday when they noticed someone loading their car with donated items.
Tredennick says, that donations left on Goodwill property is not a free for all.
"Once its left on our property on our door step it becomes Goodwill property and when they take it or go through it, it becomes theft."
Once those donations are taken, it's not taken just from Goodwill but taking opportunity from many others.
Goodwill employs around 150 employees and without donations there are no jobs.
"Well unfortunately when we don't receive the donations we aren't able to translate into dollars and jobs, and into goods for our stores for people to shop.
Tredennick says that many times, those who take the donated items, aren't people who need the items for themselves but instead resell them.
"Again, more often than not it has been found that most of those folks are going through those donations have alterer motives with that product other than their own personal use."
Some say the economy has caused some to start dumpster diving for items, but taking donated items from non-profit organizations like Goodwill is stealing and items are not free and Tredennick has some words of advice.
"Well don't do it. It's not free for the taking anymore after its donated to us and left on our porch."
If caught, you will be charged.
"They are stealing and we press charges on that because we lose because people are stealing from us."
