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5 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,A ugust 4,2022 w aterloochronicle.ca NOW OPEN new retail operation will be about double the size of the Weber Street location in Kitchener, employing upwards of 60 people. "I think it's going to add a lot to this area," said Jim Howe, manager of the Kitchener location. Goodwill hires individ- uals requiring accommo- dations and those facing barriers such as disability or social disadvantage. "The more we can spread out, the more help we can be," said Howe, add- ing that Goodwill is al- ready engaged in numer- ous community partner- ships with organizations such as Lutherwood, as well as local schools and post-secondary institu- tions. The Kitchener store is often bustling with cus- tomers these days and is becoming more main- stream due to a struggling economy and a rise in eco- conscious behaviour. "In these times, I think thrifting at Goodwill is a play a lot of people are go- ing to," said Howe. "Reus- able, recyclable -- all that kind of stuff. We're green, which I think is a big thing for everybody." Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes, is one of five regional Good- wills in Canada and em- ploys more than 1,200 peo- ple on a variety of social enterprise work platforms. According to its website, the organization is posi- tioned for accelerated growth and aiming to cre- ate 900 new jobs over the next five years. Regional manager Rainer Voigt said the Wa- terloo expansion is part of the organization's growth plan for the area, which is supported by a million do- nors annually. The new Waterloo retail facility will feature about 9,000 square feet of processing space where items get separated, sorted and cleaned. "We've got a lot of sci- ence to our business and the idea is that after the do- nor drops it off, it hits the floor within 20 minutes to 24 hours," said Michelle Quintyn, Goodwill's presi- dent and CEO for the Great Lakes region. Quintyn said the orga- nization got out of the "bin business" years ago and prides itself on being a good steward of donations. "What's really interest- ing about our business that people might not know is we're constantly rotating our product to give it a first chance of sale," she said. "A lot of our shoppers are social entrepreneurs, resellers, upcyclers and doing stuff with it them- selves," Quintyn added, referencing floral busi- nesses that purchase old vases so they won't have to buy new. "They're creating eco- nomic prosperity in differ- ent ways and we call them our frequent flyers." People can purchase some items online; howev- er, the vibe inside is some- thing donation attendant Olive Reid says is difficult to describe. "Seeing people happy from buying things that are more affordable and being able to give back to the community brings about a great feeling," said Reid, 24, who's saving up to go back to school. "Every- one that I work with is re- ally passionate about their job and loves what they do and just the positive out- come that comes from the experience." Quintyn said Goodwill's main mission includes working with people in the local community, which can be transformational along life's journey. She said donors are the ones who ultimately make it happen. "It's a community en- deavour to really build sus- tainability for people," she said. The expansion project, which involves an im- prove-to-fit lease arrange- ment, has been fraught with supply chain issues, so the opening of the new Waterloo facility has been delayed until early next year. The retail store will be in addition to the Wissler Road donation centre that will remain operational. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Goodwill has set up a donation trailer in the parking lot at 428 King St. N. and the Chronicle wanted to learn more. NEWS Continued from page 3 'IT'S A COMMUNITY ENDEAVOUR TO REALLY BUILD SUSTAINABILITY FOR PEOPLE' Formerly home to Chapters and a liquidation centre, 428 King St. N. is becoming a Goodwill. Bill Jackson/Metroland