Goodwill and FGCU Hockey team up for gameday donation drive in Estero

Oct. 6, 2010 - PRLog -- The FGCU Hockey Clubs face off for their second home series of the year on October 8-9, and will celebrate their ninth season by helping an area nonprofit.  The club is asking its fans to bring donations for Goodwill to the weekend matchups.

“I think it’s good for the hockey team to be involved in the community,” says FGCU forward Michael Lendino, who is also the team’s Vice President.  The team has also partnered to help Colleges Against Cancer, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the Malaria Project, Kappa Delta Pi.

Goodwill (http://www.goodwillswfl.org) will collect donations at Germain Arena from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9.  Inside, FGCU’s Division III squad will play Embry-Riddle at 6:00 p.m. both nights, and the Divison II team will host the University of Connecticut at 8:30.  Admission to the games is free for FGCU students and $5.00 for non-students each night. Parking is free.

People bringing donations to the FGCU Hockey openers will receive a packet of discount coupons for several area merchants, including Bar Louie, Firepit City Grill, the Nike Outlet, Pinchers Crab Shack, Red Robin, Rita’s Italian Ice, Ron Jon Surf Shop, and Tropical Smoothie Café.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida (http://www.goodwillswfl.org) provides needed services to more than 10,000 people in the area annually.  The agency’s programs include career training and job placement services, housing for people with disabilities, transportation assistance, small business programs, youth mentoring, and even a charter school for students with developmental disabilities. Approximately 85% of the funding for these programs and services comes from the resale of donated items in the agency’s thrift stores.

“Donations are the life-blood of our mission,” says Kirsten O’Donnell, Goodwill’s Director of Public Relations.  “We’re always excited when someone wants to help us generate more donations.  It means they appreciate what we’re doing for the community.”

Goodwill will accept donations of new and gently used clothing, accessories, shoes, household items, electronics, and small furniture at the FGCU Hockey openers.  Items should be clean and in useable condition. A more complete list of Goodwill's donation guidelines is located on the agency's website: http://www.goodwillswfl.org

“A lot of people aren’t really sure what’s okay to donate,” says O’Donnell. “I like to think about it this way:  If you’d feel comfortable giving it to a friend or a family member to use, then it’s good to donate.  But if it’s torn, or stained, or missing parts, you’re better off just recycling it.”

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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.