Goodwill Industries Opens Donation Center In Highland County

Monterey, VA – When Sarah Harman started her Americorps/Vista project in February, she never dreamed that it was the start of a process that would bring Goodwill Industries to Highland County. But this past Saturday, that became a reality. Randy Rexrode, from the Staunton office, who is the Area Supervisor of Donations and Salvage for Goodwill was in Monterey for the grand opening of the donation center at the Highland County Recycling Center.

“Goodwill of the Valley would like to thank the Highland County residents and especially Richard [Waybright] for this opportunity to expand our operations into Highland County” says Rexrode. “This project was started through an e-commerce recycling program that was going on in Highland County. Richard had contracted Goodwill of the Valley about receiving the product, which we accepted.”

Sarah organized a program to recycle old computers and other electronic devices. She received about 3,000 pounds of material by mid-March. Richard Waybright, Manager of the Highland County Solid Waste and Recycling Center, suggested that Sara try Goodwill Industries and a partnership was begun. The Highland Goodwill Donation Center in Monterey accepts gently used clothing, furniture, household items, computers and small electronic items such as televisions. Mr. Rexrode discusses how Goodwill is continuing to expand into western Virginia.

“Goodwill of the Valley last year was able to recycle 13 million pounds of salvage which promotes a greener environment for rural communities” he says. “This is one of the reasons we have came [sic] to Highland County. In addition to the donation site that has been established here in Highland County, the northern region of the Goodwill of the Valleys is also opening up an ADC site in Elkton, Virginia, and also Stuarts Draft, Virginia.”

Not only will the donations by Highland County residents help Goodwill Industries, but the program will also save the county money by decreasing the amount of solid waste that is shipped to Augusta County for disposal.
Goodwill of the Valleys is based in Roanoke and serves 31 counties and 14 cities in the New River and Shenandoah Valleys, Roanoke and the Allegheny Highlands. Its mission is to help people with disabilities achieve a better life through work and independence. During the last fiscal year, Goodwill of the Valleys served over 60,000 individuals through job training and employment programs and helped 1,784 people find jobs.

The Goodwill Donation center in Monterey is open Monday through Friday 8 AM to 4:30 PM and Saturday 8 AM to 3 PM.