Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

Related Photos

  • Jan-Michael Stump

    GOODWILL HOLIDAY NEEDS PROGRAM
December 1, 2009

Holiday Needs Program needs new gifts

Donations go to families in the region

BY LINDSAY VANHULLE

TRAVERSE CITY -- Dozens of vehicles rolled through the donation site at Traverse City's Goodwill store, their trunks stuffed with bags of clothes and cartons of books. All used.

For nearly two hours on a sunny Saturday, a sliver of time in a steady day, workers unloaded donors' items into bins and wheeled them inside.

With the holidays approaching, the cargo -- board games and strings of colored lights and coats and furniture -- undoubtedly will help fill shelves for shoppers in search of gifts.

But farther down the line sat an emptier bin. Decorated to look like a present, the box was half-full of stuffed animals and toys. All new.

In two weeks, they will be given to Grand Traverse County's neediest families -- people who otherwise might not be able to give gifts at the holidays.

The Holiday Needs Program, as it's known, will accept donations of new items through Dec. 9 at the Radio Shack in Suttons Bay and Dec. 14 at the Traverse City Goodwill store. Toys, books, gift cards, electronic devices, clothing, journals, toiletries and batteries are among the requested items.

Recipients in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties are referred solely through local human services agencies and will be able to select their own items from those donated.

"There's been an unprecedented need," Goodwill spokeswoman Ruth Blick said. "Our real goal is to make sure no child or homeless individual misses the warmth of the holidays and the spirit of the holidays."

Last year, more than 1,200 people between the two counties received gifts through the program, Blick said. She "would not be surprised" if the number tops 1,500 this year, given the lingering effects of an economic recession that has taken hours, wages and jobs from so many.

In addition, Art Van will match up to $15,000 so Goodwill employees can purchase additional items to supplement what's donated.

Employees have heard from donors, particularly at a recent food drive, that they aren't able to offer much.

That's fine, Blick said.

"So many people who are in hard situations have even tried to help other people," she said. "When a lot of people do a little, it has a huge impact."

Holiday Needs donations often increase closer to the December deadline, said Cody Wood, 19, a Goodwill employee who works at the donation center.

On some occasions, he said, people will specify whether they want their gift given to a boy or a girl.

"Most of the time, they just give it to me and hope it goes to a good cause," Wood said. "Which it does."

Text Only