Goodwill Expands in Bonita Springs: New thrift stores to provide more affordable shopping, jobs

May 18, 2009 - PRLog -- While many businesses are downsizing because of the economy, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida (http://www.goodwillswfl.org) is preparing to celebrate an expansion this week.   The grand opening of Goodwill’s new Springs Plaza store, located at 8951 Bonita Beach Rd. in Bonita Springs, will be this Friday, May 22nd.  That same day, Goodwill will also convert its existing Bonita Springs store into a Clearance Center.  Goodwill’s expansion in Bonita Springs has created 30 jobs and will provide additional affordable shopping in south Lee County.

The new Springs Plaza Retail and Donation Center features approximately 14,000 square feet of retail sales area, making it nearly three times larger than the previous Bonita store.  “The opportunity to expand in the Bonita area came to us earlier this year,” explains Jennifer Swift, Goodwill’s Vice President of Retail Operations.  “We made the decision to move based on community needs. The Bonita community has been very supportive of our store and generous with their donations.  We wanted to thank them with a bigger and better store.”

Also on Friday, May 22, Goodwill will convert its existing Bonita Springs store (at 28441 S. Tamiami Trail) into a “Clearance Center.”  Every item in the store will be sold for 50% less than the marked price, a welcome change for many shoppers who are struggling through a tight economy.  “It’s a new concept for our Goodwill,” Swift explains. “We wanted an opportunity to offer even more value to our customers. This economy has prompted an increased need for stores like Goodwill, as we offer low prices on quality merchandise.”

Goodwill also sees the current economic conditions as a reason to expand its reach, because Goodwill stores support job training and placement services.  Bob Haenggi, Vice President of Goodwill’s Career Development Services, explains: “The unemployment rate here in Southwest Florida shows that the need for Goodwill’s Career Development and Job-Link services is continually growing.  Our help is needed now more than ever to assist individuals in stabilizing their lives.”

In addition to employment services, revenue earned at Goodwill stores also is used to support affordable housing for people with disabilities and low-income seniors, a vehicle assistance program, mentoring for high school students, and a charter school for students with developmental disabilities.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida builds lives, families, and communities—one job at a time by helping people with disabilities and other barriers to employment discover and develop their full potential through work and career development services.  The organization’s five-county service area consists of Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties.  For more information about Goodwill's programs and services, visit http://www.goodwillswfl.org.

A full list of Goodwill's 24 Retail & Donation Centers in Southwest Florida is available at http://www.goodwillswfl.org/store_and_adc_locations.htm.

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Goodwill operates 24 thrift stores in SW Florida to support its mission of removing barriers to independence. Programs include income-sensitive housing, career placement assistance, the L.I.F.E. Academy Charter School, Four Wheels for Work, and others.