The second largest Goodwill officially opened Dec. 13 in Shoreline. The 40,000-square-foot store located at 14500 15th Avenue Northeast features a wide selection of new and gently used items, a new section, and four classrooms in an on-site Job Training Center.
A new section, Fashion Focus, offers trend wear for women of all ages and designer labels such as Ann Taylor, Pendleton, Hollister, Talbot’s, Banana Republic, GAP and Abercrombie and Fitch. The new section might be duplicated at other locations after its debut in Shoreline, according to Betsy McFeely, public relations officer.
No matter how many name brands are sold, she said, Goodwill’s mission is about helping low-income and disadvantaged individuals change their lives. Proceeds from donated items at all Goodwill locations support job training services such as retail and customer service, banking, basic education and life skills.
“The modules of Goodwill give people the basic work skills,” she said. “About 79 percent of our students have never used a computer and they learn to use Word, Excel, the Internet — we just feel everyone needs to learn certain skills in order to be competitive in today’s world.”
The first semester of job training services at the new store location will begin on Jan. 7, 2008. Classes are eight weeks long, need-based, offered for adults and free of charge.
During the opening celebration, those who shop can take part in a silent auction that began on Thursday, Dec. 13 at 9 a.m. and continues through Sunday, Dec. 16. The first 500 customers received giveaways and drawings for a variety of prizes will occur throughout opening week.
General manager Paul La France said he appreciates the donations from the community.
“We’ve been really lucky so far,” he said. “Shoreline gives a lot of good stuff. This is a very charitable community and it should be a great store.”
Donations are tax-deductible and may be driven up to a donation center behind the main building. The donation center is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Goodwill is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Goodwill is closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
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