Semi-Annual Partnership Provides Job Support Services, Delivers Great Savings to Shoppers
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — This September, shoppers at The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.’s 260 retail locations in 24 states will be able to shop locally, donate locally and change lives in their communities through the fall 2017 Goodwill Sale.
Now in its 23rd year, the semi-annual Goodwill Sale runs from Wednesday, September 13 through Saturday, September 30 at Bon-Ton, Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson’s, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s, and Younkers stores.
Considering the average woman reports never wearing 20 percent of her wardrobe at all, the Goodwill Sale is a great opportunity to donate unused items and earn savings on new fall fashions. During the sale event, customers drop off items for donation at their local department store in exchange for coupons good for up to 30 percent off the purchase of apparel, shoes, accessories and other items as well as up to 15 percent off cosmetics and fragrances. Coupons can be used in-store and online. The community is encouraged to get involved by donating items such as ladies, kids and men’s clothing, accessories, shoes, luggage and household textiles, which will be sold in Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids stores to create jobs, training programs and education assistance for people who are unemployed or underemployed.
“We pride ourselves on being a hometown shopping destination and supporting Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids through this sale is both a natural extension of that commitment as well as a critically important component of it,” said William Tracy, president and CEO of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. “Along with our customers, we’re able to see the direct positive impact this partnership brings to the communities we serve.”
In 2016, Bon-Ton customers donated 4.1 million pounds of clothing, textiles and household items, enough to fill 51 semi-trucks. These contributions generated roughly 588,714 hours of job placement, job training, skills enrichment and other community-based services, such as financial education and mentoring, for people in local communities. This translates to Goodwill helping a person find a job every 23 seconds of every business day – in a single work week more than 7,000 people were placed in good jobs.
“The Goodwill Sale is a testament to our shared vision as brands who believe in bigger savings and greater good,” said Jill Wallace, Chief Marketing Officer of Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids “It is truly inspiring to witness the support we get each spring and fall from our partners at Bon-Ton and their customers.”
Goodwill’s local Job training and placement services support anyone facing a difficult time finding a job. The Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale is Goodwill’s largest and longest-standing cause partnership and department store donation drive.
About The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., with corporate headquarters in York, Pennsylvania and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operates 260 stores, which includes 9 furniture galleries and four clearance centers, in 24 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson’s, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s and Younkers nameplates. The stores offer a broad assortment of national and private brand fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics and home furnishings. The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. is an active and positive participant in the communities it serves. For further information, please visit thebontonstoresinc.com or the company’s web site at bonton.com. Join the conversation and be inspired by following Bon-Ton on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
About Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids
Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to changing lives and communities through the power of work. Since 1966, the organization has offered a wide range of employment and training programs to assist those with disabilities and other barriers to employment in developing their marketable skills in order to find meaningful employment. Its efforts are supported by revenue from its 22 retail stores in a five-county area, as well as from monetary donations. For more information, visit www.goodwillgr.org.