Collegiate Times

In summer 2009, Goodwill will join the Blacksburg community with the addition of a new retail store located on 1413 North Main St. in the Patrick Henry Shopping Center.

The 8,470 square foot facility will serve as both a retail store and donation center offering a wide variety of donated clothing and household goods, as well as job opportunities.

"We are very excited to be opening our first store in Blacksburg," said President and CEO Bruce Phillips in the Goodwill Industries press release. "It will provide a great place to work, a place to recycle clothing and household items, and a wonderful low cost alternative to find great quality clothing and household items for the entire family."

Goodwill's new location in Blacksburg was demanded because of the negative effects of the economy.

 "More and more people need our help from an employment standpoint because companies everywhere are laying off workers," said Goodwill spokeswoman Kelly Sandridge. "Our retail stores provide employment opportunities for those who have been laid off due to the economy. The other side is that more people need our stores. People who have not used Goodwill as a means to shop, are now turning to us for that low-cost shopping alternative."

Since the nation's economic fall, Goodwill stores have experienced an 8 percent increase in revenue.

Sandridge said that the aim of Goodwill Industries goes beyond providing affordable retail goods. The non-profit company also assists members of the community with education, training and career opportunities for the homeless, welfare dependent, as well as individuals with physical or mental disabilities.

Goodwill uses the money to provide the necessary training to help individuals get successfully back into the workforce.

"We have a mission of helping people and families in our community achieve a better life through work and independence. The way we support these career services is through the revenue generated from our retail services," Sandridge said.

Last year, the donated goods operation of Goodwill Industry of the Valleys generated $22.2 million in revenue and provided more than 400 jobs throughout the Virginia area. The revenue generated was able to reach over 10,000 people with career service aid.

"The goal of the new location in Blacksburg is to service both college students and Blacksburg residents that aren't able to make it to the Christiansburg location," Sandridge said.

Because the Christiansburg Goodwill is the most established and successful retail location in the southwest Virginia area, despite its close proximity to the new location in Blacksburg, Goodwill does not anticipate any decline in its business.

Christiansburg Goodwill management declined comment.

An Attended Donation Center is currently open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m to 5 p.m and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday in the parking lot where the Blacksburg Goodwill will eventually reside. The community of Blacksburg is encouraged to recycle gently used clothing, household items, furniture, small appliances and computers of any brand and condition.

The Blacksburg Goodwill expects to hire 15 employees. Applications are available on the Goodwill Industries of the Valley's Web site.