Goodwill & Boy Scouts Partner to Retire Flags after Independence Day

FORT MYERS, Fla. - June 23, 2015 - PRLog -- As Americans celebrate our Nation’s independence this July, Goodwill and the Boy Scouts of America are combining resources to collect used, soiled, or damaged U.S. flags.  On July 5 and 6, select Goodwill stores in Lee, Collier, and Charlotte Counties will collect unserviceable flags for a proper, dignified retirement.

“People often donate their flags because they’re not sure what else to do with them,” explains Rick Evanchyk, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida.  “We want to reassure people that their flags are being handled with the utmost care. Through our partnership with the Boy Scouts Southwest Florida Council, we can provide this needed service and also help educate the community.”

Collection containers will be placed at Goodwill Retail & Donation Centers in Cape Coral (Pine Island Road location), Lehigh Acres, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers (Daniels Road and Island Park locations), and Naples (Towne Centre location). Stores are open 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. on July 5 and 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. on July 6.

Collected flags will be transported to Boy Scouts of America for retirement.

“Flag retirement has been a tradition for Boy Scouts for decades,” explains Greg Graham, scout executive and CEO of the Boy Scouts of America Southwest Florida Council.  “It teaches our Scouts respect for the country. They are retiring a symbol of honor, courage and strength of our nation where many have selflessly sacrificed for others’ freedom.”

Scouts retire flags in a formal ceremony. Each scout is encouraged to comment about our nation and freedom during the retirement.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties.  Goodwill operates 30 retail stores in the region to support its mission of helping people with disabilities and disadvantages by offering life-changing opportunities to achieve independence.  Goodwill’s programs include Job-Link centers, the Goodwill SWFL MicroEnterprise Institute, disability-accessible housing, the Goodwill L.I.F.E. Academy Charter school, and others.  In 2014, the nonprofit provided assistance to nearly 40,000 Southwest Floridians. More information about Goodwill can be found at http://www.goodwillswfl.org

Goodwill flag drop-off locations:

Charlotte County:

         Port Charlotte- 2325 Tamiami Tr.

Collier County:

         Naples- 3759 Tamiami Tr. E.

Lee County:

Cape Coral- 1500 Pine Island Rd.

Fort Myers- 16523 Island Park Rd.

Fort Myers- 13500 Plantation Rd.

Lehigh Acres- 2825 Lee Blvd.

All participating stores are open 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 5 and 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. on Monday July 6.