Celebrate Earth Day by Aiming to Be a Zero-Waste Household

SANTA ANA, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 22, 2014) - This spring cleaning season and Earth Day, Goodwill of Orange County is encouraging community members to donate for good (#Donate4Good). All donated items and financial contributions allow the organization to fund its vital employment and training programs. These programs provide tools and resources to help those living with disabilities and facing other barriers achieve independence through work -- and are responsible for placing more than three people into good jobs every day.

One of the first social enterprises in American history, Goodwill Industries was founded in Boston in 1902 by Rev. Edgar J. Helms with the mission of achieving "zero waste in people and things." Helms collected used and unwanted items from the wealthier parts of town, and then trained and hired the unemployed or bereft to mend and repair the goods and re-sell them at low prices -- making Goodwill one of the first organizations to be green with a purpose. Today, Goodwill of Orange County ensures that 92 percent of all donated items are diverted from landfills.

Donating Goods
Clearing clutter has been said to reduce anxiety and renew energy in the body and home. Knowing that clutter will not wind up in a landfill, but go directly to helping others in your community is doubly satisfying. While Goodwill accepts donations year round, there's no better time than now -- the beginning of spring and celebration of Earth Day on April 22 -- to donate unwanted items instead of throwing them away. As a California State Certified e-waste collector, Goodwill also accepts working and non-working electronics at each of its donation centers.

Ninety-two percent of goods that come through Goodwill of Orange County's donation centers will be reused, repurposed or recycled; whether sold in stores, on shopgoodwill.com or routed through the organization's recycling program. Either way, donations positively support the environment and the community. Goodwill of Orange County has staff standing by at donation centers in nearly every neighborhood of the county and is welcoming the donation of gently used clothing and household items. Find a donation center near you at ocgoodwill.org/locations. 

Destroying Documents Safely
Now that tax season is over, local businesses and individuals are encouraged to take advantage of Goodwill's secure document destruction services to safely dispose of old papers and files. The document destruction program is used by law firms, hospitals, accountants, and other professional organizations that need confidential information shredded and disposed. Goodwill Business Services can also arrange to pick up large quantities of files for disposal anywhere in Orange County and in Long Beach.

Files for document destruction can be dropped off at Goodwill of Orange County's Business Services building located at 3232 S. Fairview St., Santa Ana, Calif. 92704. For more information, call 714-569-0449.

Goodwill Donation Drives
Orange County residents also have the option of hosting a neighborhood donation drive or organizing a community youth donation drive, both of which will help raise money and awareness for a school or youth program in addition to supporting Goodwill's mission.

"We're proud to be a vital resource to individuals and businesses in the community," says Frank Talarico, Jr., president and CEO of Goodwill of Orange County. "We encourage everyone to be environmentally conscious this spring and donate any unused items to Goodwill. Not only will you be helping others with your tax deductible donation, but you will be playing an important role in protecting our planet too."

For more details about donating goods to Goodwill of Orange County or to learn more about how Goodwill is helping those who need it most secure and keep jobs in the community, visit ocgoodwill.org.

About Goodwill of Orange County: Since 1924, Goodwill of Orange County has been in the business of helping people who are facing barriers to enter the workforce in a meaningful, fulfilling manner. Founded on the belief that every person should have the opportunity to achieve the independence that work provides, Goodwill is most recognized for being the conduit where donated goods are sold in America's favorite thrift stores to generate the revenue that provides the services to those who face employment challenges. Celebrating its 90^th year in 2014, Goodwill of Orange County has supported thousands of Orange County residents since its inception by creating and providing quality training and employment services to empower its program participants to be productive and independent. The nonprofit organization has dozens of programs that support this effort, including the Goodwill Fitness Center, Orange County's only facility specially designed for people suffering from chronic illnesses and physical disabilities; its veterans' advocacy program, Enduring Independence, which helps veterans and their families transition to civilian life through the power of work; and its Assistive Technology Exchange Center (ATEC), which provides access to more than 1,000 state-of-the-art technology devices for children and adults with disabilities. These are just a few of Goodwill of Orange County's innovative programs that have served those facing barriers in Orange County for the past nine decades. In 2012, Goodwill was named one of Orange County's Most Trusted Brands. To learn more about Goodwill of Orange County, visit ocgoodwill.org.