Month: January 2013

#1 Steelers Fan Ron Kratofil, Goodwill President and CEO Wears…a Romo Jersey?

January 15, 2013

Ron Kratofil, Goodwill Keystone Area’s President and CEO and #1 Pittsburgh Steelers fan, was a really great sport when he entered the Goodwill store meeting this morning donning a Tony Romo Dallas Cowboys jersey! He reluctantly entered.

Not only did he have to show off his jersey to all the store managers, my camera was there AND a local TV station showed up to cover the event. How will he ever live this down?

He was supported by a could of terrible towels wavers, but the reason he had to wear the attire of his least favorite team was due to Goodwill employee voting. To support the employee giving campaign that culminated in December, employees who donated were able to vote – no matter what they gave – for the team jersey they thought Ron should wear all day.

Goodwill Employees Give Back

The campaign took in the highest total in its history, $25,600 for Goodwill’s mission to help people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. As a nonprofit, Goodwill relies on cash donations as well all donations of stuff that it sells in its stores to help fund job training and community skills classes that help people in local communities. Goodwill Keystone Area serves a 22-county area in south central and southeastern PA.

Don’t Sweat it – Inexpensive Workout Clothes at Goodwill

January 11, 2013

Lose 15 in 2013

Let’s face it, most of us feel like we need to lose 15 pounds. Eating better is part of the equation, but exercise is another. To exercise, you need workout gear.

Workout Clothes for Less

Brand name running jackets at Goodwill at 4880 Carlisle Pike in Hampden Township, Cumberland County.

Can you ever have enough workout clothes? We don’t workout in our work clothes. We don’t workout in the clothes we go to the mall in. We workout in what I like to call “grungies.” We sweat in them over and over until they are too grungy to even go to the gym in. Then we buy brand new workout clothes and start all over.

Sweat It Up at Thrift Store Prices at Goodwill

Why pay premium prices for workout clothes at a sports store? Why shell out hard-earned cash at a high-end retail store gear when you’re just going to get them really sweaty? Goodwill always has a huge variety of quality tee-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants and running clothes. Brand names too. I’ve even found the original tags on some of the clothes. They may have been gifted, but never worn.

Enjoy the Fruits of Your Workout

The money you save on workout clothes can be used to buy fruits and veggies! When you get smaller and your clothes get bigger, look on the Goodwill clothes racks for an outfit that is a size smaller. When you decide never to go back to those ‘mom’ jeans, consider donating unneeded clothes to Goodwill!

Things to Do to Beat the Winter Doldrums

Get outside during the winter. Just being outside makes you feel healthier.
No matter the temperature, go for a walk, run or play a sport.
Download a workout app if you own a smartphone and keep track of the calories you burn.
A mile walked at a decent pace takes about 15 minutes and burns off about 100 calories.

Go Green. Recycle Your Old Computer at Goodwill.

January 7, 2013

Go Green. Recycle Your Old Computer at Goodwill.

New Recycling Act in Effect Jan. 24

As of January 24, 2013, Pennsylvania will be requiring all computers and televisions to be recycled under the Covered Device Recycling Act. These items will no longer be picked up curbside with regular trash. Many waste haulers are already instituting the policy to start the year.

Goodwill Does Not Accept Donated TVs

Since March 2012, Goodwill Keystone Area has no longer accepts donated TVs. We do recycle any brand of laptops and desktop computers, monitors, printers, mice, cords and other computer accessories, whether they are in operating condition or not. We also accept donated consumer electronics that are in working condition. If you donate a computer, be sure to transfer or erase any personal information you may need from the hard drive.

We Do Accept Computers! Goodwill’s Dell Reconnect Program.

Go green by donating a computer or computer accessory to Goodwill, enabling it to be recycled properly. Goodwill recycles computers through a program called Dell Reconnect. This ensures that no computers take up valuable landfill space and that heavy metals are disposed of properly so they don’t contaminate the environment, damage soil or pollute watersheds.

If you are donating a computer monitor, laptop or scanner and the glass is damaged, please place it in a plastic-lined cardboard box when dropping it off. For information on the computer components and peripherals accepted, check here: http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/corp-comm/items-reconnect. Donors can assign a value to the computers they donate for tax write-off purposes.

Dispose of TVs at County Recycling Centers

To properly dispose of and recycle televisions or nonworking electronics, we recommend you contact your county recycling center. For addresses, go here: http://bit.ly/Rx6gNN