Goodwill donates to help national security
While Goodwill Industries helps the community every day, this month they are also helping the entire country.
The North Fort Myers-based headquarters was the spot of an unusual donation from the agency this month – luggage and clothing to the Transportation Security Administration for use in training their bomb-sniffing dogs.
“This is actually a reverse donation; usually we get things we sell in our stores,” said Laura Alford, Goodwill’s director of Donor Development. “These were items weren’t in good enough condition to sell in our stores, so rather than toss them away or salvage them, we decided to recycle them to the TSA with their drug sniffing dogs.”
She said it was a good way to “repurpose” those items and keep them out of the landfills. “And if Goodwill can contribute to our national security, that’s even better.
“It’ll definitely go to good use,” said Inspector Jason Nimark, TSA Lead Explosives Detection Canine Handler in a prepared statement. “The donation of this luggage will enhance the training of our dogs and the protection of the public.”
Nimark, along with Iisaac, an explosives detection canine, picked up the luggage and clothing at Goodwill’s North Fort Myers Headquarters.
Alford said she enjoyed meeting both Nimark and Iisaac. The dog even has his own trading card like athletes do, as he has public appearances for the TSA. “I still have his card,” she said.
“They can only use the luggage a few times, so it is vital for them to get donations, different ways to train the dogs as well.”
“Goodwill in another state had told us they donated some unsellable luggage, and they encouraged us to check and see if the TSA in Florida was in need,” said Goodwill Director of Public Relations Kirsten O Donnell. “We’re giving back to the community and now the country as well.”
The baggage and clothing will be used for testing and training at Miami International Airport and at an off-site training center, O’Donnell said.
“When we train, we use up to 50 pounds of clothing in the bags to simulate real baggage,” Nimark explained. “We’re always trying to teach the dogs something new, so there’s constant training for the dogs and handlers.”
TSA also assists other federal, state, and municipal agencies in the training of their canine officers and handlers.
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. operates 24 Retail & Donation Centers in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties. Revenue generated from the resale of donated goods supports programs and services for people with disabilities and other disadvantages.
For more information about Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, visit www.goodwillswfl.org.