As of May 20, Goodwill has officially reopened all donation Xpress centers and nearly all stores here in Central Florida. Goodwill’s stores will be operating on limited hours while the locations are in this preliminary reopening phase, alongside some new precautionary safety policies, including one-way aisles, plexiglass partitions at check out, and limited shopper capacity. 

Employees will also be required to wear face masks and gloves, and fitting rooms will remain closed until further notice. The organization claims to have rehired at least 800 of the 1,000 employees laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic as of June 1. 

“Goodwill’s mission is to build lives that work, so we feel fortunate to not only reopen so many of our stores but also to rehire so many of our employees,” said Kim Praniewicz, senior director of marketing and communications. “We’re grateful for the shoppers and donors who have already returned. Donations and store sales are imperative for our job connection services, which are much needed as unemployment rates continue to rise.”

Goodwill’s retail locations are the primary source of funding for the organization’s employment services, which also provide career counseling, vocational training, and job placement to employees. For every dollar of revenue by local Goodwill locations, 90 cents directly supports employment assistance here in the heart of Central Florida.

Job-seekers can access all Job Connection Center resources and counseling online by emailing JobConnection@GoodwillCFL.org or calling (407) 235-1541. For more information about Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, visit www.GoodwillCFL.org.

Photo Courtesy of goodwill.org