Goodwill Sees Steady Donations from Fairgoers

By Jessica Burger

Every week fairgoers line up on Wednesdays to donate piles of clothes to Goodwill Orange County, in an event that has grown steadily over the last few years, organizers reported.

On "We Care Wednesdays," one of the 2013 Orange County Fair's weekly promotional events, people who donate five gently-used items of clothing get in free to the fair. Organizers said most fairgoers go above the five-item minimum, some even lug in trash bags and moving boxes filled with clothes.

“I donate every year,” Los Angeles resident Holly Liu, who donated a box of sweaters, swim suits, pants and more, said. “I think it’s a good cause and it’s helping out the less fortunate.”

That spirit of doing good for others is what Randy Taylor, vice-president of facilities for Goodwill Orange County, said makes the event Goodwill OC's  biggest single day collection of the year.

“Last year we gave out 22,000 tickets,” Taylor said. “For each ticket we collected at least five items so do the math.”

Goodwill OC, currently in its fourth straight year at the OC Fair, sets up at both entrances on Wednesdays with empty yellow semi-trucks and hundreds of 500-pound moving boxes each waiting to be filled. The clothes is later distributed among the county’s 23 Goodwill locations.

Doug Wooley, the organization's community relations director in OC, said more than 90 cents out of every dollar spent at Goodwill goes back into the organization.

“From a donor stand point, it’s important to know where your money or donations are going,” Wooley said.

In addition to helping cloth the underprivileged community, Wooley said giving people a place to get rid of their clothing also helps OC cities alleviate some waste that could otherwise end up in the trash.

The Orange County Fair runs through Sunday, Aug. 11. Clothing donations will be accepted again on We Care Wednesday, Aug. 7, from noon to 4 p.m. In addition to free admission, fairgoers who donate clothes will also get a free carnival ride. 

Have you donated clothes at the OC Fair? Tell us in the comments.

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