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Goodwill Manasota Veteran Programs: Serving Those Who Served Us

Did you know that Goodwill Manasota veteran programs were created in an attempt to address the issue of veteran unemployment? You’re probably wondering why this is necessary knowing that the government already provides our military veterans with much-needed assistance as they transition to civilian life. The sad truth, however, is that even after the government steps in to help, countless former military personnel still need to be served.

Goodwill Industries’ commitment to bridging the gap of service that the government alone is unable to fill was the reason behind the establishment of Goodwill Manasota veteran programs. These programs are aimed at empowering those who fought bravely to preserve everything that our nation stands up for and who are now facing hardship mainly due to unemployment.

Why Goodwill Is Helping Our Veterans

Our government spent millions of dollars to train our military personnel. Unless their skills are repurposed after their active service is over, they will become nothing more than lost assets. Therefore, Goodwill believes that providing jobs for our veterans is not just an act of charity but also as an investment to our local community.

What are the Goodwill Manasota Veteran Programs?

To get a clearer picture of the critical challenges that our vets are facing, Goodwill Manasota’s Veterans Task Force sent a survey to various organizations to gather inputs based on their own perspectives. The data gathered from the survey was used as a basis for the provision of community-supported solutions for the employment issues that the veterans deal with as they transition into civilian life.

With the commitment to create and present opportunities for education and wellness to military veterans and their families, Goodwill provides case coordination as well as mentoring services for them. Check out these veteran programs and how they are helping change lives for the better:

• Veterans and Their Families Program

Since 2013, this program has been focusing on providing educational and technical skills classes, one-on-one guidance, targeted recruitment services, job fairs, work tools, and employment preparation courses to help vets find rewarding employment beyond their military careers.

• Special Emergency Resources for Veterans (SERV) Program

Local business owners provided and are still providing financial support for the establishment of this program. Since 2015, 100% of the money they donated has been used towards meeting the immediate financial needs of qualified veterans.

• Benefits, Resources and Veterans Education (BRAVE) Program

Since its inception in 2016, this program has been addressing the mental health care needs of veterans who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and other debilitating mental conditions.

• Resource Veterans Guide

More often than not, veterans find it challenging to navigate through the services that are made available to them once they reintegrate back into the civilian sector. The Resource Veterans Guide is a directory of services that are related to child care, housing, food, and everything else that the vets and their families need as they transition from military to civilian life.

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Make an Impact in Your Community Today!

If there’s one thing you need to know about Goodwill Car Donations, it’s the fact that it intends to help individuals reach their full potential through learning and the power of work. We sell via auction all donated vehicles we receive and use the proceeds to support the Goodwill organizations in your area in providing disabled and other disadvantaged residents with skills and job training, career development and placement, scholarships, youth employment, livelihood, disability benefits support, and other community-building support services.

Those are the life-transforming benefits to your community that you will help create when you donate your old and unwanted vehicles to us.

We accept almost all types of vehicles. What’s more, we offer free towing services and we’re willing to pick up your vehicle from any point in the United States. Keep in mind that your donation is 100% tax-deductible, too!

If you need more information about how our vehicle donation program works, check out our FAQ’s page. You may also call us at 866-233-8586 or contact us online.

If you’re ready to make a difference in your community today, fill out our online donation form now!

Become the Reason for a Success Story

You can contribute greatly to the success of Goodwill Manasota veterans programs by donating a vehicle you no longer to Goodwill Car Donations. Call us at 866-233-8586 and be one of the reasons behind a success story or a changed life!

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Get to Know the Disability Services Offered By Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida

If you reside in Charlotte, Collier, Lee, or just about any county in the southwestern area of the Sunshine State, you’ve probably heard of Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida (SWFL). If this is your first time to hear about the organization, we’d love to tell you all about it.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida has long been helping people with disabilities and other disadvantages become more self-sufficient and financially secure members of their community. The organization does this by offering numerous programs and services, which include affordable housing, job training and placement, and youth programs. These programs are funded from the resale of goods donated to Goodwill SWFL.

Disability Services Offered by Goodwill SWFL

As of 2018, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida had supported more than 28,000 community members and families through their disability services. It offers three programs that cater to PWDs of all ages but each with a different objective. Find out more about them below.

1. Trailways Camp

Goodwill SWFL has been serving the Trailway Camps since October 2012. Founders Jerry and Sharon Miller of the Robert V. and Benjamin G. Miller Fund started the program to give Southwest Floridian adults with disabilities the opportunity to experience the joys of camping.

Goodwill houses 60 campers every year at their overnight camping sessions at the Riverside Retreat Center in LaBelle, Florida. Campers take part in activities such as canoeing, swimming, fishing, nature walks, arts, and many more.

2. Pathways to Opportunity (PTO)

A day training program for adults with intellectual and development disabilities, the PTO program aims to assist such individuals in integrating themselves into their community. Classes are done by groups or in a one-on-one session. They are classified under four main categories, which are:

• Recreation (sports and clubs)
• Employment exploration (volunteering and job training)
• Education (life skills in preparation for independent living)
• Creative expression (fine arts and performing arts)

If you’re interested to learn more about their programs, check out their website for further details.

3. Pathways to Work (PTW)

The PTW program offers services to both youth and adults with disabilities, focusing on career exploration, training, and job opportunities. Courses are facilitated by trained job coaches with years of experience of working with PWDs.

The PTW program offers two options for their young beneficiaries—the High School High Tech (HSHT) program and on-the-job training. HSHT is designed to assist students in determining their aptitudes and interests through various classroom activities, internships, and job shadowing.

On-the-job training gives students the chance to decide whether they’re really fit for the job they hope to acquire in the future. Not only is it an opportunity for them to explore, but they can also earn a modest sum of income from their temporary employers.

Job seekers, who are referred by the Vocational Rehabilitation group, are matched with job coaches to assist them in seeking employment. Services are grouped into two categories: the Supported Employment and Employment Services and on-the-job-training. The first option includes job assessment, development, placement, coaching, and follow-along services.

If you’re interested to learn more about their programs, check out their website for further details.

Uplift Lives of Disadvantaged Folks in Your Area

Did you know that you can uplift the lives of the disabled and other disadvantaged people in your community? All it takes is your donation of a vehicle you no longer need to us at Goodwill Car Donations. We sell at auction all vehicles donated to us and invest the proceeds in the various community-building programs offered by Goodwill organizations in various communities throughout the country. These programs provide underprivileged Americans with skills and job training, career development and placement, scholarships, youth employment, livelihood, disability benefits support, and other community-building support services.

Aside from making a difference in the lives of these people, your car donation will entitle you to receive a 100% tax-deductible sales receipt once your donated vehicle is sold at auction. With this receipt, you can claim the highest possible tax deduction based on the selling price of your vehicle or its fair market value when you file your itemized federal income tax return next tax-filing season.

To know more about Goodwill Car Donations, our donation process and other related information, feel free to visit our FAQs page. For inquiries, give us a call at our toll-free hotline 866-233-8586 or send us your message online.

You can make your car donation by either calling us directly or filling out our secure online donation form here.

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Help Us Serve More Less Fortunate Americans

The disability services offered by Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida are just some of the many life-transforming services that Goodwill offers to our less fortunate fellow Americans. Help us serve more of them by giving away something you no longer need—your old car. Call us at 866-233-8586, and make your car donation now!

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‘Where Can I Donate My Car?’

If you’re thinking what to do with a car that has evolved into a hideous eyesore in your backyard, we wouldn’t be surprised if you ask the question, “Where can I donate my car?” We couldn’t blame you for being down to your last straw after spending your hard-earned money on expensive repairs for a car that couldn’t be brought back to its glory days.

Perhaps you had thought about selling it yourself but changed your mind after realizing that you’d want to save yourself from all the hassles associated with such a venture. Trading it in may not also be a tempting option for you since from the looks of it, you won’t be getting much at the state your clunker is in.

After carefully considering how you’re going to get your hands off your beater, you may eventually come to realize the best answer to your question: Donate it to a charity that supports a cause you can strongly identify with and one that can turn your rusty old piece of machinery into a powerful tool that can turn lives around.

A Great Place to Donate a Vehicle

Although you’ve finally decided to donate that clunker of yours to charity, you’re still looking for that nonprofit organization that you can entrust it to. You can find a plethora of charitable institutions out there that are undoubtedly awesome at what they’re doing to help their beneficiaries live much better lives. However, not all of them accept vehicle donations.

In case you’re wondering, Goodwill Car Donations is a great place to donate a vehicle. When you make a charitable contribution to us, you help us set the stage for countless disabled and other disadvantaged individuals across every state in the country to rise above their limitations and reach their highest level of personal and economic independence. We do this through the power of education and employment.

After we auction off the vehicles donated to us, we use the funds to support the programs of Goodwill organizations spread out all over the country. These programs provide services that directly benefit the people in various communities who need them the most. To give you an idea, check out this list of some of the critical programs that are being delivered by Goodwill organizations to their beneficiaries:

• Family-strengthening services
• Job coaching and placement
• Vocational evaluation and situational assessment
• Computerized office skills training program
• Customer service skills training program
• Industrial cleaning skills training program
• Youth mentoring
• Career training
• Youth services
• Education for students with developmental disabilities
• Income-sensitive housing for senior citizens and the disabled
• Vehicle assistance programs

The Benefits of Donating Your Car to Goodwill Car Donations

Now that you have an idea about what your contribution can potentially do to positively change people’s lives, allow us to share with you the benefits that you can look forward to once you donate your car to us.

• You’ll enjoy FREE car removal!

Finally, you can cast off the heavy burden of owning a defective car without you having to pay a single dime for its removal off your property. A licensed towing company will handle the job.

• A substantial tax deduction!

Who says you can’t trim down your taxable income? Donating to an IRS-accredited 501c3 nonprofit will definitely qualify you for a healthy tax write-off!

• Our donation process is extremely easy!

Just fill out our online donation form here, pick a convenient time and date for your car removal, and receive your tax-deductible receipt that we’ll send you by mail following the sale of your vehicle. Our team will be with you every step of the way to handle any of your questions and concerns.

• Good karma!

Sowing goodness into the lives of the people in your community will cause you to reap the same goodness one way or another. Your generous giving will never leave you empty.

You Can Donate Almost Any Type of Vehicle

Curious about the types of vehicles that we accept as donations? Take a look at this list:

• Cars and trucks: sedan, hatchback, coupe, luxury car, hybrid, pick-up truck
• SUV and vans: full-size, crossover, family minivan, large passenger van, bus
• Motorcycles: scooter, cruiser, off-road, touring
• Fun vehicles: ATV, motorhome, trailer, jet ski, snowmobile, golf cart
• Boats: sailboat, tugboat, yacht, speedboat
• Others: riding lawnmower, motorized wheelchair, glider, private noncommercial jets

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Donate a Vehicle Today!

We hope we have given you the answers you were looking for. To know more about us, check out our FAQs page. For inquiries, give us a call at our toll-free hotline 866-233-8586 or send us your message online.

If you want to make a huge difference in your community, donate your unwanted vehicle to Goodwill Car Donations by calling 866-233-8586 now!

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Upstate/Midlands South Carolina Job Training Certifications

Did you know that you can get a job certification at Goodwill through its Upstate/Midlands South Carolina job training certifications? This is good news to anyone who seeks stable employment as a means to realize their full potential and a higher quality of life.

For more than a century, Goodwill Industries has been offering opportunities to overcome barriers to employment for deserving individuals who are living with disabilities and other disadvantages. Some of these people are the ones who bear the brunt of company downsizing and plant closures or the impact of a difficult economy. Since Goodwill is one of the biggest and most reliable charitable institutions in the country, you can find a Goodwill company almost anywhere in the United States.

All About Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina

The Goodwill Movement was brought by Lloyd Auten to South Carolina in 1972. Since then, it has been steadily growing and affecting surrounding communities. It expanded into the Midlands region in 1997. This expansion was marked by the opening of the first Columbia-area store on St. Andrews Road.

In 2002, the very first Job Connection was opened at the Western Square facility located in Berea. In the next five years that followed, Job Connection sites were also opened in Columbia, Greenville, Simpsonville, Anderson, and Greer. A major change happened in 2006 when its name was changed from Goodwill Industries of Upper South Carolina to Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina.

Over 11,000 individuals across the Upstate and Midlands regions have stable jobs all because of the combined efforts of the people behind the organization and its generous donors. As a result, countless people who were previously unemployed are now becoming more productive and financially stable all because of Goodwill’s programs that promote education and employment.

You Can Get Certified at Goodwill!

In case you’re not aware, Goodwill offers nationally recognized workplace certification courses that are designed for job seekers who want to build workplace skills. Let’s dive in to take a closer look at each one of these job training certifications:

• Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)

This is ideal for those who want to earn a Commercial Driver’s License while gaining the required knowledge and developing the skills needed to safely operate a commercial vehicle. Generally, participants can expect Goodwill to shoulder 50% of the cost of tuition. However, they’re also allowed to apply for additional financial assistance to cover the remaining tuition costs.

Other Goodwill provisions that are inclusive to this program include DMV permit, 10-year driving record, drug screen, background check, CDL licensing, job placement, case management services, and physical required by the Department of Transportation.

• Food Service Certification

This five-week classroom curriculum and on-the-job training program provides a nationally recognized ServSafe certification given by the National Restaurant Association (NRA). Goodwill will provide the uniforms, job search and placement services, case management services, as well as post-employment services in behalf of the participants.

It provides training in resume development, mock interviews, workplace professionalism, basic computer literacy, communication skills, work ethics, and financial management. Plus, participants will be trained to practice safe food handling and preparation, cash handling, customer service, serving and storing food, as well as workplace safety.

• Forklift Operator Certification

This program takes 1 to 3 days of training limited only in certain locations such as Greenville, Lexington, and Greenwood. Aside from the certification, curriculum textbooks will be provided by Goodwill as well.

• Nurse Aide Certification

This is a course that holds classroom and clinical training sessions that focus on basic caregiving. Certifications from the American Heart Association Basic Life Support for the health care provider as well as certification for CPR will be provided by Goodwill. Depending on the participant’s location, certain requirements and provisions may vary.

Are you interested in taking part in any of these programs? If you are, don’t hesitate to contact Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina at 864-351-0100 to get more information.

How You Can Uplift Lives

All of us think about what we can do to make our corner of the world better. Today, you can join Goodwill as we bring positive changes to the lives of disadvantaged people and their families through the power of work and learning.

You can team up with us by donating a vehicle you no longer need to Goodwill Car Donations, the online fund-generating platform of Goodwill Industries and its various nonprofit organizations throughout the nation.

We sell at auction all vehicles donated to us and use the proceeds to support the critical community-based programs of the Goodwill organizations in your area. These nonprofits use the funds to deliver services such as skills and job training, career development and placement, scholarships, youth employment, livelihood, disability benefits support, and other community-building support services.

Aside from transforming the lives of the underprivileged people in your community, your car donation will also entitle you to claim the highest possible tax deduction since you’ll get to receive a 100% tax-deductible sales receipt once your donated vehicle is sold at auction.

To know more about Goodwill Car Donations, check out our FAQs page. For inquiries, give us a call at our toll-free hotline 866-233-8586 or contact us online.

You can make your car donation by either calling us directly or filling out our secure online donation form here.

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Make a Difference in Your Community Now!

Are you ready to make a difference in your community? Call us at 866-233-8586 and get started with your car donation!

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Goodwill’s Upstate/Midlands South Carolina Job Training Programs

If you believe that every person deserves a chance to experience economic independence, then you’ll be glad to hear about Goodwill’s Upstate/Midlands South Carolina job training programs. In case you’re not familiar, Goodwill Industries is an IRS-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to empower individuals in every community who are struggling with certain disabilities and other disadvantages. Goodwill believes that the road to a good quality of life starts with opportunities for learning that eventually lead to rewarding employment.

Goodwill is one of the biggest institutions in the industry, with local chapters in various localities across the United States. One of these chapters is the Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina. Since its establishment in 1973, this Goodwill chapter has slowly expanded into surrounding areas and is now serving the needy in Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, and Union.

Job Training Programs

Did you know that through the efforts of the people behind this organization, the Upstate and Midlands experienced an economic bonanza? This is mainly due to the $149 million worth of wages from people that Goodwill has placed into employment. Through the donations of concerned individuals, we’re able to launch life-changing programs that lead to brighter career opportunities for those who desperately need them. To give you an idea, check these out:

• Veteran Services

This program is primarily designed to offer opportunities for the education and employment of U.S. military veterans. The benefits it provides include comprehensive career assessments, career and financial planning that’s unique to the beneficiary, activities that promote career readiness, services for job placement and retention, and skills training and credentialing.

• English as Second Language (ESL)

This program provides training for adults who recently immigrated from foreign countries whose native language isn’t English. Weekly classes are held at the Easley Job Connection.

• Financial Stability Centers (United Way Centers for Working Families)

These centers can be found in Berea, Simpsonville, and Kershaw/Camden. They offer complete services that are designed to help individuals attain stabilized finances. Services include financial literacy, basic budgeting, goal setting, credit counseling, access to benefits, job placement, and training.

• Work Readiness Workshops

These training sessions seek to enhance an individual’s job searching techniques, resume writing, basic computer literacy, and more.

• Good Guides

This is a program that focuses on mentoring youth who are 12 –17 years old and seeking educational and employment goals. Aside from mentoring, Good Guides provide skills building and work readiness sessions, service learning, and field trips that focus on career and college exploration.

• WIOA Youth Program

This aims to assist job-seeking Greenville residents who are 16 to 24 years old. It offers paid GED Prep, paid work experience, training for work readiness, opportunities for training in certain industries (food service, retail, manufacturing, construction, and more), opportunities to receive childcare and transportation reimbursement, and opportunities to earn a certification.

• Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)

This gives senior citizens access to job skills training lasting up to 20 hours per week. Participants are paid the highest minimum wage in the federal, state or local levels during the duration of the program, which is up to 27 or 48 months.

The training program covers skills, interests, and abilities assessment, assistance with employment plan development, support and connection to specialized training and resources, as well as assistance with finding and keeping jobs.

• Ticket to Work

This program was created as part of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, a law that seeks to remove the barriers that keep people from going to work because of concerns over losing their healthcare coverage. It also seeks to help those who are living with disabilities find employment. To participate, one must be between the ages of 18 and 64 who are recipients of Social Security cash benefits based on their disability.

• YouthBuild Greenville

This program is designed to help young adults aged 16 to 24 who are living in Greenville and who seek to get an education and develop work skills in preparation for a career in the construction industry. It offers GED instruction, leadership training, construction training and certification, paid work experience at Habitat for Humanity sites, as well as transportation and childcare assistance.

Help Your Community Today

If you strongly identify with the cause that’s being taken up by Goodwill, we encourage you to donate your old and unwanted vehicles to Goodwill Car Donations, the fund-generating platform of Goodwill Industries. The proceeds from the auction sale of your vehicle donation will be used to fund a variety of community-building programs that aim to transform the lives of disadvantaged individuals and their families.

Even better, once you donate your clunker to us, you’ll be qualified to enjoy a top tax deduction in the next tax season.

If you want to know more about the benefits of making a charitable contribution to Goodwill Car Donations and other related matters, check out our FAQs page. For inquiries, give us a call at our toll-free 24/7 hotline 866-233-8586 or contact us online.

If you’re ready to donate today, fill out our online donation form here or call us to get started!

Make a Difference in the Lives of Needy People

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Your car donation will surely give a boost to Goodwill’s Upstate/Midlands South Carolina job training programs. Call us at 866-233-8586 and make a difference in the lives of the underprivileged people in your community with your vehicle donation!

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16 Important Items to Keep in Your Vehicle at All Times

Finding yourself in the middle of nowhere when your tire needs to be changed won’t be a nightmare if you have the much-needed tools in your vehicle for this particular emergency. It’s always good to be prepared for any unforeseen event. We at Goodwill Car Donations are here to share with you this list of 16 essential items that you need to keep in your car.

What You Need to Have in Your Car

1. The owner’s manual

If you’re one of those who didn’t even bother to leaf through the pages of your car’s manual, you don’t have to be sheepish about it. Make sure you don’t put it someplace else other than your car’s glove compartment. You’ll never know when you might need it.

2. Flashlight

Get a crank-style flashlight that doesn’t need any batteries because, over time, batteries can lose their juice.

3. Weather radio

This will come in handy when your trusty iPhone is getting no service and you can’t hear anything but static on the car radio while dark clouds rapidly form over the horizon. There’s no other way of knowing the latest weather bulletin from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) if you don’t have a weather radio to listen to. What’s more, if you’re stuck in the wilderness with no living soul in sight, this device can be a lifesaver.

4. Mylar blanket

Did you know that a mylar blanket can be more useful than you think? If you want to keep yourself warm inside your car during winter or if you need to dry wet pieces of clothing faster or catch rain for water supply or even if you need a sunshade to protect you from the blazing heat of the sun, a mylar blanket will surely come in handy.

5. Printed maps

You can’t afford to get yourself lost when your GPS signal is blocked or if your phone is low on battery. Make sure you’ve got some printed maps so you can get to your destination safely.

6. Reflective triangle

You’ll need this device to make sure that other motorists will see your car when you pull off onto the shoulder in the dead of night for repairs.

7. Water bottles and emergency food

To prevent dehydration when you’re stranded in a place where no water can be found, make sure you have a couple of sturdy bottles of water on hand. Also, we encourage you to keep non-perishable, calorie-dense, meltproof food items such as granola bars and dried fruit or energy bars.

8. Jumper cables

Your car’s dead battery won’t faze you if you have your own jumper cables stored in your trunk.

9. Spare tire

It’s wise to check with a local car service center or your car’s manufacturer when looking to purchase the correct spare tire for your type of vehicle.

10. Tire changing supplies

It’s best if you have a lug wrench, a tire iron, a tire jack, some wheel chocks, and a WD-40 kept in your car at all times.

11. Tire pressure gauge

Make sure you have a tire pressure gauge stashed somewhere in your car so you’ll know when you’ve added enough air to your tire.

12. First aid kit

You never know when you’re going to need it. In any case, you’ll need to have the basic items on hand: vinyl gloves, scissors, bandages, an antiseptic, and a whistle. Keep this in your glove compartment next to your owner’s manual.

13. Window punch and seatbelt cutter

What happens if your car crashes and your car is immersed in the water with you in it? In case you didn’t know yet, your car’s side glass window is almost impossible to break without a window punch. You’ll thank the high heavens for reminding you to keep a window punch and a seatbelt cutter inside your vehicle.

14. Fire extinguisher

Keep a portable fire extinguisher around – the kind that looks like a bug spray. You’ll need it if your engine catches fire.

15. Duct tape

Need we say more? Your emergency kit won’t be complete without it.

16. Multi-tool device

You don’t need a bulky toolbox. All you need is a multi-tool device that has every tool that you might need.

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Keep Safe!

You’ll have to be prepared for what is unpredictable. If you have these items in your car, you’ll have everything you need to get you through a difficult car situation.

As you try to ensure your safety inside your car, you may want to consider getting rid of that vehicle if it’s already giving you all sorts of problems on the road and putting you and your passengers at risk.

How about donating it to us at Goodwill Car Donations? We’ll easily take it out of your hands at absolutely no cost to you. Moreover, you’ll get your vehicle’s worth in the maximum tax write-off you’ll get after we sell your car at auction.

Most important of all, your car donation will greatly benefit your own community. We’ll use the proceeds from its sale to support the critical programs of the Goodwill nonprofit organizations working in your area for the benefit of disadvantaged residents. These are the men and women in your community who are burdened with disabilities, lack of education, welfare dependency, past criminal records, and other personal hindrances that prevent them from securing stable and decent jobs and living a life free from poverty.

Your car donation will be used to provide them with life-transforming services such as skills and job training, career development and placement, scholarships, youth employment, livelihood, disability benefits support, and other community-building support.

To know more about Goodwill Car Donations, our donation process and other related information, check out our FAQs page. For inquiries, give us a call at our toll-free hotline 866-233-8586 or send us your message online.

You can make your car donation by either calling us directly or filling out our online donation form, which you can find on the right side of this page.

Call us at 866-233-8586 and get free towing service for your car donation.

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10 Best Used Cars for First-Time Drivers: Get the Most Out of Your Money

If you’re planning to buy your teenage kids their first car for their birthday or for the upcoming holidays, we at Goodwill Car Donations are here to present to you the 10 best used cars for first-time drivers.

Since they’ll be behind the wheels for the very first time, you need to be sure that the car they’ll be driving has all the safety features and passed the standards set by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), is easy and fun to drive, and—most important of all—costs several times less than it’s brand-new counterpart yet looks almost the same.

The 10 car models listed and described below all fit the bill. Check them out and choose the one that you think is the best for your kid.

• 2009-present Honda Fit

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Price range: $7,000 – $19,000

IIHS safety ratings: Good with 9 – 9.7 score

Why buy it: This is a small car with superb fuel economy, great reliability ratings, and a spacious cabin. It’s equipped with Honda Sensing Suite that has driver assistance and safety features including a lane departure warning system and automatic high beams. It also has a powerful engine while having a lightweight design that makes it easy to handle when driving along main roads and highways.

• 2012-present Ford Focus

Photo by Justin Chan under Flickr License

Price range: $7,000 – $25,000

IIHS safety ratings: Good with 9.3 – 9.5 score

Why buy it: This car has a quiet interior and well-insulated cabin. The newer models have sporty steering and easier to zip into tight parking spots. It has a user-friendly infotainment system, generous cargo space, fine-tuned suspension, cold weather package with heated steering wheel, front seats, and mirrors, and good forward and rear view visibility.

• 2009-present Mazda 3

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Price range: $6,195 – $19,000

IIHS safety ratings: Good with 9.8 score

Why buy it: Every Mazda 3 includes the standard equipment of Bluetooth, air conditioning, steering wheel-mounted controls, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen for the Mazda Connect Infotainment System. It has a comfortable space for tall drivers and has a powerful engine. It is an extremely safe compact car with smooth exterior styling.

• 2005-present Honda Civic

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Price range: $4,000 – $21,000

IIHS safety ratings: Good with 9 – 10.0 score

Why buy it: This car has three body styles you can choose from. It has sporty trim levels and has good track performance, smooth drive, very responsive steering, great gas mileage, and advanced connectivity features. Its Type R model is the quickest front-wheel-drive car ever tested.

• 2006-present Toyota Rav4

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Price range: $8,000 – $24,000

IIHS safety ratings: Good with 9 – 9.3 score

Why buy it: This car has a spacious cabin, a lot of standard active safety features, generous cargo space, supportive front seats, and an advanced infotainment system for fourth-gen models. It is known for its reliability and practicality and offers good performance at a reasonable price. The current models show sleek and remodeled looks with a four-camera birds-eye-view system

• 2007-present Honda CR-V

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Price range: $8,000 – $27,500

IIHS safety ratings: Good with 9 – 9.8 score

Why buy it: This is a compact five-seat SUV with elevated suspension and a seating position that will make you feel like you’re driving a larger vehicle. It has spacious, comfortable, and high-quality interior and enormous cargo storage. It has good overall handling and maneuverability. Third-gen models have new five-speed automatic transmission

• 2014-present Kia Soul

Photo by RL GNZLZ under Flickr License

Price range: $11,600 – $18,800

IIHS safety ratings: Good with 9 – 9.3 score

Why buy it: This car has a unique box-type design, high-tech exterior illumination, total app connectivity, spacious cabin and storage, comfortable and heated seats both rear and front, expandable cargo space, and theater-quality sound. The 2017 model has 200 horsepower under the hood and blind spot detection while the 2018 model has automated braking and cruise control.

• 2010-present Toyota Prius

Photo by Kārlis Dambrāns under Flickr License

Price range: $12,000 – $24,000

IIHS safety ratings: Good with 9 – 9.3 score

Why buy it: This is an environment-friendly car with user-friendly controls, spacious interior, a lot of standard active safety features, plenty of cargo space, responsive steering, secure handling, and good front and side visibility.

• 2006-2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Photo by FotoSleuth under Flickr License

Price range: $8,500 – $19,000

IIHS safety ratings: Older models are good with a 100.0 score, but 2017 and 2018 models aren’t tested yet

Why buy it: This lightweight car has lightning reflexes. Some models offer a three-piece power folding retractable hard-top convertible roof and OBD-II engine management system software that provides immense engine power, modern-looking fixed lights, six-speed manual transmission, and a limited-slip differential.

• 2005-present Ford Mustang

Photo by Agustin Segura under Unsplash License

Price range: $7,000 – $35,000

IIHS safety ratings: Good with 9 – 9.7 score

Why buy it: This car has coupe and convertible body styles, renovated interior, six-speed automatic transmission, good electrical power steering, and great V-8 exhaust sound with a balanced chassis.

Get Your Vehicle’s Worth with Us

If you’re buying a new used car to replace the older one you’re using that’s giving you lots of problems on the road, consider donating that clunker to us at Goodwill Car Donations. We provide one of the most donor-friendly services among organizations offering car donation programs. With us, you’ll get your vehicle’s worth in terms of quality service and the highest possible after-sale tax deduction.

Moreover, you’ll feel good knowing that your vehicle will be used for the benefit of your community and its disadvantaged residents. They include those who are burdened with disabilities, illiteracy and other personal circumstances that prevent them from getting employed and living a poverty-free life.

We sell at auction all vehicles donated to us and use the proceeds to support the community-based programs of the Goodwill nonprofit organizations serving your area that specifically cater to disadvantaged individuals. The funding helps our nonprofits in delivering various essential services to your community such as skills and job training, career development and placement, scholarships, youth employment, livelihood, disability benefits support, and other community-building support.

The beneficiaries of our job training programs are taught skills best suited for them, thus enabling them to secure decent and stable jobs. This empowers them to become financially independent and able to take care of themselves and their family.

What makes our car donation program truly special is that our donors also get to receive their share of rewards, including maximum tax deductions based on the selling price of their donated vehicles.

To know more about Goodwill Car Donations, our donation process and other details, feel free to visit our FAQs page. For inquiries, give us a call at our toll-free hotline 866-233-8586 or send us your message online.

You can make your car donation by either calling us directly or filling out our online donation form, which you can find on the right side of this page.

Call Us Before Buying a New Used Car

Before buying that used car that you’ve set your eyes on, call us at 866-233-8586 and get free professional towing service for your car donation.

Photo by Андрей under Pexels License

Top 10 Motorcycle Brands: Do You Have Any of These Bikes?

Here are the top 10 motorcycle brands in the world today. There is no particular ranking in terms of quality or popularity. It’s up to you to weigh their merits.

• Kawasaki

Kawasaki is a Japanese company founded by Shozo Kawasaki in 1878. In addition to aircraft and other vehicles, the company started making motorcycles in 1969. Kawasaki is known for its high-performance fun vehicles. Its most famous bike brands are the KLR and the Ninja.

• Honda

Honda is also a Japanese company and the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959. It has been in business since September 1948. A year later, it started producing motorcycles. Honda is also the world’s largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines. The most popular Honda bike is the Honda CBR300R. Its bikes might be more expensive compared to other Japanese bikes, but their performance is worth their price.

• BMW

Did you know that BMW, or Bayerische Motoren Werke, created engines and bikes for Germany’s war machine? This company was one of the world’s earliest manufacturers of motorcycles. The company started its business in 1901, produced its first motorcycles 22 years later and is now the most famous German motorcycle brand.  BMW’s most popular bike is the S1000RR, which is a sports bike.

• Yamaha

Yamaha is one of the first Japanese motorcycle manufacturers. Its first motorcycle brand was the Yamaha YA-1, which it produced in 1955. It became an international brand in 1960. The company then started exporting motorcycles to the U.S. Yamaha’s most popular model is the YZF-R6.

• Ducati

Ducati is considered as the most popular Italian motorcycle manufacturer. It started producing motorcycles in 1950. It is currently owned by Audi. Ducati is known for its V-twin engines, which are two-cylinder engines that enhance the Italian design.

• Triumph

Established in 1983, Triumph is Britain’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. It started producing motorcycles in 1902. Triumph currently sells high-speed motorcycles as well as cruising-type machines.

• Moto Guzzi

Moto Guzzi is an Italian motorcycle company established in 1921 and is the oldest European manufacturer in continuous motorcycle production. Its most popular bikes are the California and the Breva brands.

• Harley Davidson

Harley Davidson is America’s pride when it comes to motorcycle production. It is the most iconic bike in the world. It was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1903. The company offers a ride for every lifestyle—from street model to cross-country. The most famous Harley Davidson bike is still the 1915 11F.

• Suzuki

Suzuki is a Japanese brand that has been producing some of the fastest motorcycles in the world. It started as a loom works company in Hamamatsu, Japan in 1909 but only released its first motorcycle in 1952. Suzuki motorcycles have a distinctive body style and power, making it one of the biggest motorcycle brands in the world. It released the first Japanese motorcycle with a liquid-cooled engine in the early 1970’s in its GT750 series.

• Victory

Victory was an American motorcycle company. It attempted to end Harley’s domination of the American chopper market, but it obviously failed when it finally closed shop in 2017—after 20 years of manufacturing. Victory Vegas is its most popular brand.

Impact Lives of the Disadvantaged with Your Vehicle Donation

Do you own one of the top 10 motorcycle brands that we have listed here? If you do, is it still in good working condition? If not, if it’s already way past its prime and you no longer use it, do consider donating it to us at Goodwill Car Donations. If you have other vehicles that you don’t need anymore, consider donating them to us as well.

We will quickly save you from the trouble of maintaining unwanted vehicles by towing them at no cost to you. We will even reward you with top tax deductions after we sell your donated vehicles at auction.

Most important of all, your vehicle donations will enable you to provide life-changing benefits to the disabled and other disadvantaged people in your community. We will use the proceeds from the sale of your donated vehicles to support the critical community-based programs of the Goodwill nonprofit organizations serving your area. Through these programs, deserving members of your community will be able to receive job training and placement services, mentoring, career development, youth employment, disability benefits support, and other community-building support. Those who enlist in our job training programs will be empowered with suitable skills that will enable them to qualify for stable jobs that pay decent wages.

These once idle and dependent individuals will thus become financially independent and able to take care of themselves and their family. They will become productive workers with the capacity to contribute to the growth and progress of your community.

That’s how your vehicle donation will impact the lives of the people in your community.

Photo by Sven Ciupka under Unsplash License

Let’s Transform Lives!

To know more about Goodwill Car Donations, visit our website’s About Us. For more information about our donation process, the top tax deduction and other rewards that await you as our car donor, and other related matters, check out our FAQs page. For inquiries, give us a call anytime, any day at our toll-free hotline 866-233-8586 or send us a message online.

Join us in transforming the lives of the less fortunate people of your community. Call us at 866-233-8586 and get started with your car donation.

 

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3 Things You Need to Know on How to Protect Your Vehicle from Rust

Rust on your vehicle is a big and serious issue. A little rust can spread easily throughout your vehicle and turn it into an unwanted clunker. The damage rust can do to your vehicle can ruin body panels and can even put the strength and firmness of the vehicle’s frame in jeopardy.

That’s why we have listed down for you three important details on how to protect your vehicle from rust:

1. Search for any sign of rust.

Inspect your vehicle’s wheel wells and bumpers. These are the places where rust usually develops. Due to the difficulty of seeing some auto parts, people often neglect to check them. Get your car inspected for rust. Tire rotation is the perfect time for this.

Rust often develops in areas where body components meet. They include the hood, trunk, fenders, and doors. Inspect them and look for rust spots. Any signs of paint damage like bubbling are indicators of rust beginning to develop in the areas where you find them.

Regularly check the bottom of your vehicle. This is the part that takes the most damage since this is the part that first gets into contact with hazards like snow or salt from the sea or other chemicals.

No water should be left inside or on the vehicle. Although your vehicle is made to endure anything that tries to hit it, over the course of time, it will soon become vulnerable to numerous hazards like rusting. So, be sure to dry out or drain the water in your vehicle as soon as you see one.

2. Prevent rust from spreading.

If you ever see a spot with rust, do your best to scrape it off to prevent it from spreading. You can use a razor blade or fine grit sandpaper depending on its size. Be sure not to hit the surrounding paint.

After scraping off the rust, apply a rust arrestor to prevent rust from coming back in the area.

Next, add a thin layer of paint primer to provide the paint with a strong hold.

Once the primer has completely dried, paint it. Avoid dripping. Evenly paint it in smooth, long strokes and be sure to cover everything in the spot.

3. Maintain and keep it clean.

Regularly wash your vehicle. Dirt, debris, salt, and other filth can cause damage over time to the paint of your vehicle which can go through the anti-rust protection. This allows rust to easily spread throughout the vehicle. Have your vehicle washed every now and then, including the undercarriage, to prevent any buildup of dirt.

Add baking soda into a soap mixture to help neutralize the effect of salt every time you wash your vehicle.

Wax your vehicle regularly. Wax does not only provide shine to your vehicle since it also gives an added protection to the paint from any type of damage, thus increasing your vehicle’s resistance to rust.

Photo by Erik Mclean under Unsplash License

Transform Lives with Your Vehicle Donation

If you have a car, truck or any other type of vehicle that is already old and rusty, why not properly dispose of it by donating it? You can donate it to us at Goodwill Car Donations where it will be used to help the disadvantaged people in your community. These include the men and women in your neighborhood who are burdened with disabilities, lack of education, welfare dependency, and other barriers to opportunities for personal growth and development.

We will sell at auction your donated vehicle and use the proceeds to support the programs of the Goodwill organizations serving your area that are dedicated to helping these people overcome their limitations and use their full potential to achieve financial independence through the power of learning and work. The funding will be used to provide them with job training, employment services, and other critical community-building support. Our main objective is to enhance their quality of life and restore their dignity. We do this by teaching them skills that best suit them, empowering them to find decent employment so they can support themselves and their family.

You can join us in our mission of transforming lives by taking part in our car donation program.

To get to know Goodwill Car Donations better, visit our website’s About Us page. For more information on our fast, easy, and convenient donation process, the rewards you’ll get from your charitable deed including a top tax deduction, the types of vehicles you can donate, and other important details, visit our FAQs page. If you have questions, give us a call any time, any day at our toll-free hotline 866-233-8586 or contact us online.

You can make your car donation by calling us directly or by filling out our online donation form, which you can find on the right side of this page and all other pages of our website.

Let’s turn your old vehicle into something useful. Call us at 866-233-8586 and donate it to us today!

Photo by Karolina Grabowska www.kaboompics.com under Pexels License

 

How to Get Your Car Ready to Donate: Take These Steps to Avoid Delay in the Processing of Your Car Donation

So, you’ve finally decided to get rid of your old and burdensome car. After giving it a deliberate thought, you’re finally ready to donate it to us at Goodwill Car Donations.

After providing us with pertinent details about your car and we agreed on a schedule for the pickup of your vehicle, what happens next?

Be Tow-Ready!

There have been instances in the past when our donors would only prepare their cars and papers by the time our tow truck driver arrived. This can be really inconvenient for both parties.

On our part, there are other donors waiting for their vehicles to get towed on the same day. If you’re still in the process of getting all the requirements ready on the appointed date and time for the pickup, that will most certainly cause a delay in the processing of your vehicle donation. This is especially true if you belatedly realized that you’d misplaced your car title and keys and could not hand them over to us by the appointed pickup date. Trust us, you don’t want that happening to you!

To make the towing process smooth and efficient for everyone, be sure to take certain steps before our driver comes for your vehicle. Here’s how to get your car ready to donate:

• Have your signed title, keys, and license plate ready.

Place them on your coffee table or nightstand the day before the pickup. That way, you don’t have to look for them anymore by the time our driver arrives.

• Be ready with your lien release, too.

That is if your state requires it.

• Remove vehicle tags.

Days before we pick up your car, have your tags removed and returned to the DMV. However, since all states have different regulations, we advise you to check with your local DMV first.

• Remove all car belongings.

Make sure that your car is completely empty. Take out all personal items that you have in your compartment and trunk.

If you happen to be on a business trip on the day of the pickup, it’s totally fine with us. Just leave all the requirements inside your car. Better yet, have someone fill in for you as we’ll also be issuing you your tow receipt.

Photo by Erik Mclean under Pexels License

 

Make a Difference in Your Community Today!

Still haven’t made a car donation with us? Now’s the perfect time to do so!

We at Goodwill Car Donations serve as a fund-generating platform of Goodwill organizations all over the country. For over a hundred years now, we have been providing job training, employment services, and other critical community-building support to millions of disadvantaged Americans. These are the men and women who are saddled with disabilities, illiteracy, welfare dependency, and other personal factors that prevent them from accessing opportunities for employment and personal growth.

All Goodwill organizations are guided by a singular mission: To improve the quality of life and enhance the dignity of these less privileged Americans by enabling them to overcome their limitations and reach their fullest potential through learning and work.

We sell through auction all vehicles donated to us and use the proceeds to support the critical community-based programs of these organizations. Those who enlist in our job training programs are taught suitable skills that enable them to secure decent jobs. With the wages they receive, they become financially independent and able to take care of themselves and even their family. These once idle and dependent individuals become productive workers, helping contribute to the growth and progress of their community.

To know more about Goodwill Car Donations, visit our website’s About Us page. For more information on our donation process, the top tax deduction and other rewards that our donors receive, and other related matters, check out our FAQ page. For inquiries, give us a call at our toll-free 24/7 hotline 866-233-8586 or contact us online.

You can make your car donation by calling us directly or by filling out our online donation form, which you can find on the right side of this page and all other pages of our website.

Call us at 866-233-8586 today and make your car donation. Join us in making a difference in your own community.