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Original recycler Goodwill teams with LCEC on Earth Day for green day

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ANDREA GALABINSKI Senior Director of Retail Jennifer Nelson, LCEC’s Public Relations Manager Karen Ryan, Mike Carroll of Costco and LCEC’s Laura Puerto at donation drive on Earth Day.
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Nelson with donation.

Known as one of the original recyclers, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida partnered with LCEC to make Earth Day 2011 special.

The two entities held a drive to get even more donations for local Goodwill stores that are not only green, but help members of the community.

“We thought it was a great opportunity to partner with Goodwill,” said LCEC’s Public Relations Manager Karen Ryan. The two major corporate headquarters are side by side in North Fort Myers. “I think it is the perfect example of neighbors helping neighbors. The other nice thing is the partnership has the ultimate benefit to help those in the community in need.”

For well over 100 years Goodwill has been “green.” “Since 1902, we have repurposed gently used goods, even though it is not our main mission, we are very proud of the fact that in Southwest Florida last year, donations to Goodwill kept about 22 million pounds of items or usable goods out of landfills,” said Kirsten O’Donnell, director of Public Relations for Goodwill Industries. The whole process, she said, started with early officials going door-to-door for donations.

Goodwill partnered with its neighbor LCEC, for an employee donation drive with a free lunch and discounted memberships donated by Costco Wholesale.

Costco is another green local company, said Marketing Representative Mike Carroll. “Over 30 percent of our products are earth-friendly products. We are doing everything to keep up with those type of products.”

Jennifer Nelson is the senior director of Retail for Goodwill. “Earth Day for us is always a great vehicle to promote recycling and reuse, and stress the importance of donations to our stores.”

“Reduce, reuse and recycle” was their message for the day, she said, and year round.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida operates 25 retail and donation centers in order to support its mission of helping people with disabilities and other disadvantages overcome their barriers to employment and independence.

Goodwill Secure Shred in North Fort Myers also offered free shredding for both individuals and businesses at its North Fort Myers headquarters on Earth Day. Secure Shred recently earned AAA certification from the National Association for Information Destruction.

Goodwill Secure Shred was established in 2007 to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities while also providing a needed service to the community.

For more information on Goodwill’s Retail & Donation Centers or Goodwill Secure Shred, visit goodwillswfl.org.