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Goodwill Week kicks off in Central Florida. Here’s what it includes

Karla Jimenez joins Breakfast with Bridgett

ORLANDO, Fla. – Each morning on “Breakfast with Bridgett,” there are interesting stories and interviews, plus weather and traffic to help you plan the day.

Bridgett on Monday talked about Goodwill Week with Karla Jimenez from Goodwill Industries of Central Florida.

Goodwill is hosting several events to encourage sustainability, safety and job security. The theme this year is “Denim into Dreams.”

“This year, we’re doing ‘Denim into Dreams’ which is something as simple as a pair of jeans can go into building a life that works. That’s our mission here, we want to make sure everyone in our community can sustain themselves and live fruitful lives,” Jimenez said.

The average American discards more than 81 pounds of clothing a year. That’s why Goodwill encourages everyone to donate as much of their unwanted clothing as they can and shop secondhand first.

Goodwill of Central Florida diverts nearly 24-million pounds of household goods from local landfills. This year, Jimenez says they’re on track to divert 27-million pounds.

“We do that through a couple of different operations. If something doesn’t sell, we have an aftermarket program. A lot of things can be sent to other businesses to be repurposed. They can also be sent to other countries. We also have two outlets. We have an outlet, one in Taft and one in Pine Hills, where things are sold by the pound. That’s another great way to go and get things for a low cost, and to also get things out of the landfills,” Jimenez said.

On Wednesday, May 8, Goodwill is teaming up with Neighborhood Centers for Families in Orange County to hold employment coaching sessions by pre-scheduled appointment.

Saturday at the South Orange Blossom Trail location, Goodwill will host a “Sustainable Saturday” event. There will be a “Shred-It” truck available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for people to safely dispose of bulk personal paperwork.

Go to the Goodwill of Central Florida’s website to learn more about Goodwill Week events.

Every day we dish up something new on Breakfast with Bridgett. Join us weekdays at 7:30 a.m. On the News 6 Plus streaming app or ClickOrlando.com.


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