Goodwill to open Thursday with drive-through donor service

Media release: Goodwill of North Georgia is  putting the finishing touches on its new Rome store and donation center. The facility, located at 154 Hicks Drive, will open it doors for the first time on Thursday, December 15 at 9:00 am and will feature a drive-up donor door and 12,500 square foot sales floor stocked with clothing, books, furniture and other household items.

At the same time, Rome elementary school students are in a race to help their community and help their school earn money. East Central and West End Elementary schools have become temporary donation centers for Goodwill. Students, parents and teachers can drop off donations during school hours. On December 16, the donations will be tallied, and the school who collected the most will receive $500 from the nonprofit.

"With this donation drive challenge we have the ability to teach our next generation of donors about giving back, protecting the environment and being good citizens," says Goodwill Director of Public Relations Elaine Armstrong. The winning school will be announced during a live remote with Radio Disney on Saturday, December 17 at the Rome Goodwill (154 Hicks Drive).

All of the items collected at the schools will stay in the community and go to the Rome store to be sold. Goodwill will use the proceeds to help fund its job training and employment services, many of which will take place at a new career center that also opens on Thursday and is located just inside the new store.

"We want the students to not only feel a sense of pride because they've helped earn money for their school, but also to feel connected to our mission as we help people in Rome and Floyd County find work," Armstrong adds.

Shoppers who attend the grand opening (December 15 – 18) will have the opportunity to enter hourly drawings for Goodwill gift certificates.