FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACT:

Kathy Melley

Goodwill

(617) 541-1218

kmelley@goodwillmass.org

 

 

GOODWILL & ZOOTS RING IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH LAUNCH OF “THE BIG DROP” DONATION DRIVE

 

Celebrate the season by giving – and get an end-of-year tax write off!

 

BOSTON (December 7, 2006)—Goodwill and ZOOTS are teaming up for “The Big Drop” holiday donation drive to encourage people to do a “big clean out” of overstuffed closets and donate clothing to make room for holiday gifts – and to support a good cause. The drive will take place December 11 - December 31, 2006 at all Goodwill donation sites and ZOOTS dry cleaning store locations. Donors have until December 31st to make donations and count them as a deduction on their 2006 returns.

 

Goodwill is seeking donations of new or gently used men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, particularly apparel such as ski jackets, coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, and scarves that will help people stay warm during the cold winter months. Donation drive participants will receive a donation receipt for a deduction on their 2006 personal tax filings.

 

“Big Drop” donations benefit Goodwill, which provides job training and career services each year to more than 9,000 people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.  Goodwill also will use donations for the guests of Pine Street Inn, New England’s leading resource for homeless men and women, as part of a special collaboration between the two organizations.

 

 “With the cold weather here and the holidays fast approaching, now is a great time for people to go through their closets and dressers and donate clothes they don’t wear to Goodwill. This will help ensure that we have a plentiful supply on hand for the winter months,” said Joanne K. Hilferty,

President & CEO of Goodwill. “Donations not only help Goodwill provide low-cost, quality

merchandise to local communities through our stores, but they also support Goodwill’s efforts to help people develop job skills, get jobs and become self-sufficient.  And, donations of coats will help the guests of Pine Street Inn stay warm this winter.” 

 

ZOOTS retail locations have served as Goodwill clothing donation sites since the company was founded in 1998.  Today, ZOOTS operates 80 retail stores in nine states that have received hundreds of thousands of clothing donation items for Goodwill from customers. ZOOTS also serves more than 200 communities through its home delivery service.

 

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 “The holidays are a time when people are looking for ways to give a little extra to help people in need,” said Jim McManus, CEO of ZOOTS. “The Big Drop is a convenient, easy way for people to lighten their closets and, in the process, help make a difference in people’s lives.”

 

How THE BIG DROP Works

 

Clothing can be “dropped” at any Goodwill Donation Center in eastern or central Massachusetts, including the seven Goodwill Stores, or ZOOTS Dry Cleaning stores in Massachusetts. Those who drop off donations at a ZOOTS store or a Goodwill site will receive a Goodwill receipt, on which they fill in the value of the donation.  Donors interested in claiming tax deductions should keep itemized lists of their donations.  The Internal Revenue Service allows a deduction for each item, but the donor determines each item’s value. Generally, an item’s value should be based on fair market value – what the item would sell for in a thrift store. For general guidelines, visit www.goodwillpromo.org and www.irs.gov (publication: http://ftp.fedworld.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p561.pdf).

 

ZOOTS stores are open seven days a week with extended hours every day – visit ZOOTS.com for specific store locations and their hours.  Goodwill’s attended donation centers are open seven days a week. For a full list of all Goodwill donation sites and hours of operation, please visit www.goodwillmass.org or call 1-888-828-GIVE.

 

About Goodwill

For over a century, Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries (Goodwill) has provided job training and work programs to help individuals with disabilities and other barriers to self-sufficiency achieve independence and dignity through work. Headquartered in Boston, Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries is the founding organization of a worldwide network of more than 200 Goodwill affiliates. Last year, Goodwill provided job training and career services to more than 9,000 men and women in Massachusetts. The seven Goodwill Stores in Eastern and Central Massachusetts provide on-the-job training opportunities for Goodwill participants. The White House has recognized Goodwill as a national model for serving individuals with multiple barriers to employment. For more information, please visit www.goodwillmass.org.

 
About ZOOTS

ZOOTS was founded in 1998 by Todd Krasnow and Tom Stemberg, creators of Staples, The Office Superstore.  In addition to its 80 retail stores and many delivery routes, ZOOTS also offers carpet cleaning, water restoration, smoke/fire restoration, and garment cleaning for premium hotels, military bases, and sporting venues.  

 

ZOOTS is an award-winning cleaner and offers premier cleaning quality and customer service.  ZOOTS couples its commitment to traditional quality and service with a business model that makes dry cleaning more convenient for time-starved customers.  ZOOTS’ customers are able to select or change their preferences online and receive notifications by email when their orders are ready.  ZOOTS customers are also able to drop off and pick up 24/7 in most locations and many ZOOTS stores offer drive-thru service.  

 

ZOOTS offers cleaning that is healthier for consumers and safer for the environment.  The stores and delivery routes that ZOOTS has opened throughout New England do not use perchloroethylene, aka “perc,” the primary solvent used by many other cleaners.  The EPA has cited perc as a possible carcinogen and hazardous air pollutant.  Unlike perc, ZOOTS’ dry cleaning solvent is 100% biodegradable.  It is gentler on clothes and odorless, leaving them without that “dry cleaning” smell.

 

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