Goodwill stores bracing for busiest week of year but feel they are prepared

ATLANTA - Goodwill of North Georgia is gearing up for what's consistently its busiest week of the year, but this time it expects donors to breeze through drop-off lines.

Families de-cluttering their homes to make room for holiday gifts, and taxpayers looking to claim a deduction for charitable donations typically make their way to one of Goodwill's more than 100 North Georgia locations the day after Christmas through New Year's Eve.

In Northeast Georgia, donation centers are located in Cornelia, Gainesville, Buford, Dahlonega, Dawsonville, Cumming and Suwanee. (Click on the second link below for a list of all donation centers and Goodwill stores in North Georgia and their addresses.)

"We've come to expect it, so each year we prepare for an influx of donors December 26 through December 31. This year, we'll likely see nearly 90,000 donors in just those six days," says Director of Public Relations Elaine Armstrong.

Last year, the nonprofit received donated items from more than 80,000 North Georgians. The increased number of donors typically means some will have to wait in line. But Goodwill says this year it expects technological upgrades to make the process quicker than ever.

"In January we launched our electronic donation receipt process. Now, rather than signing in to obtain a donation receipt, donors will receive an ID number, which allows them to access their donation receipts electronically," Armstrong explains. "They don't need to write anything. Donors can simply drive up, allow us to unload their items, and leave with their ID number."

Goodwill's online Donation Tracker stores each user's receipts, freeing donors from holding on to the records. First-time users will need to complete a simple, one-page registration process. Once they've created a profile, users can add and manage donations as they make them. "Because the process is electronic, donors can register and access their receipts 24 hours a day, seven days a week," adds Armstrong. "We've even optimized the website for use on mobile devices."

As always, Goodwill still urges donors to double check what they plan donate before leaving the house. In addition to making more room and claiming a tax deduction, Armstrong says Goodwill donors are making a positive impact on their community.

"Each time someone makes a donation or a purchase, they are helping us put thousands of people to work through job training and employment services."

You can find out more about Goodwill of North Georgia online at goodwillNG.org.