Enjoy shopping at Goodwill, or donating items there? Both activities just got a bit easier

Cindy Peterson
·2 min read

Goodwill Industries of Central Florida has extended the operating hours of its retail stores across its six-county service area, including Lake County, providing more opportunities to shop and donate.

The extended hours took effect July 1 and will be implemented in all 29 stores located in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard, Volusia and Lake counties.

“Our decision to extend hours was in the best interest of our shoppers and donors,” COO Arnold Sanchez said. “We know that many people in our community work full-time jobs, have families, and have limited time to get their shopping done. As we near back-to-school shopping time, we’re hoping that the extended hours offer those community members more convenient hours to get that shopping done and drop off those donations they’ve been meaning to. We’re understanding of the fact that those we serve are busy people, so this is really an effort to serve them better.”

A Goodwill worker sorts and prices donated clothes to be put in the Eustis retail store.
A Goodwill worker sorts and prices donated clothes to be put in the Eustis retail store.

The new store hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. (The old hours were 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays.)

This expansion of hours aims to accommodate the busy schedules of individuals who work during the day and offer them a more convenient shopping and donation experience.

A worker unloads donations from a woman's car at the Eustis Goodwill retail store.
A worker unloads donations from a woman's car at the Eustis Goodwill retail store.

Ed Durkee, the president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, expressed the organization's commitment to serving its customers and the community.

"Many of Goodwill's shoppers and donors are busy people with 9 to 5 jobs,” Durkee said in a news release. “By offering extended store hours, we aim to make it more convenient for our customers to get their shopping done and drop off their donations – which in turn will provide even more goods and resources for our neighbors.”

The organization also hopes that the extended hours will encourage more individuals to donate. Goodwill relies on donations to offer low-cost goods to the community, valuable resources, employment opportunities, and job skills training.

The revenue generated through the sales supports Goodwill's employment placement and job skills training services, as well as its vocational rehabilitation program.

Effective July 1, the new Goodwill store hours will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. This is the Eustis store.
Effective July 1, the new Goodwill store hours will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. This is the Eustis store.

Lake County is home to four Goodwill store locations:

+ Clermont Goodwill: 1855 S. Grand Highway, Clermont

+ Lady Lake Goodwill: 637 U.S. 27/441, Lady Lake

+ Eustis Goodwill: 18573 U.S. 441, Eustis

+ Leesburg Goodwill: 10600 U.S. 441, Leesburg

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Store hours at outlet locations and Donation Xpress Centers will remain the same. More at www.goodwillcfl.org/locations/.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Goodwill announces new retail store hours effective July 1