(Rochester, NY) – In celebration of Earth Week, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes formally announced today that it is launching the Million Pound Challenge in an effort to bring the entire community together to work toward the common goal of keeping an additional one million pounds of useful items out of landfills this year by donating to Goodwill.
“During the year-long Million Pound Challenge, Goodwill is calling on individual donors, businesses, schools, faith communities, and the community as a whole to each do their part to make our community a better place to live and work,” said Sondra McFarlane, Vice President of Retail at Goodwill of the Finger Lakes.
According to McFarlane, donors dropped off seven million pounds of clothing, books, shoes, linens, household items, and electronics to Goodwill last year, diverting what would have just become waste taking up space in landfills. Those items were instead converted into treasured items, that when sold in local Goodwill stores, create revenues that support programs and services that prepare and empower people with barriers to independence to be self-sufficient and contribute to their families and communities.
“We want to thank everyone who donated last year and helped Goodwill to keep our air cleaner, our ground water safer, and our future brighter,” said McFarlane. “This year, let’s do more. Together.”
Goodwill Expands Donated Items It Accepts
Goodwill has always been the place for people to bring the gently used clothing, books, shoes, linens, and household items that they no longer need or want.
As a part of the Million Pound Challenge, Goodwill also announced today that it is partnering with local electronics recycler Sunnking to expand the list of donated items to include computers, cell phones, toner cartridges, and other similar electronics that it will accept at its stores and attended donation centers throughout the Greater Rochester and Onondaga County areas.
“Thanks to the award-winning work Sunnking Electronics Recycling does to divert electronic waste from ending up in landfills, through this partnership Goodwill can now be certain that electronic donations made during the Million Pound Challenge that are not sold in our stores will be recycled in the proper manner,” said McFarlane.
“We are honored that Goodwill has selected us as their electronics recycling partner,” said Duane Beckett, Chairman & CEO of Sunnking. “We know that Goodwill of the Finger Lakes has a tremendous reputation and also has their pick of service providers, so we are thankful to be chosen. By adding Goodwill’s locations to our extensive collection network, we are able to provide residents and small businesses a free, easy and convenient way to drop off old, obsolete and unwanted electronics."
Additionally, Goodwill announced that the Democrat and Chronicle, 92.5 WBEE, 96.5 WCMF, 98 PXY, 98.9 The Buzz, and Sports Radio 950 AM ESPN have joined the Million Pound Challenge as media partners.
More information about the Million Pound Challenge by Goodwill, including a list of upcoming donation events and those that have taken the challenge by donating to Goodwill can be found on Goodwill’s website.
