By Mary O’KEEFE

The Goodwill donation centers in Montrose and La Crescenta have always had a healthy response from the community regarding donations; however, since the beginning of the novel coronavirus pandemic donation times and locations have been severely limited. Despite signs posted at the locations requesting people to not drop off items because many of the donation centers are closed residents continue to leave items at the sites. These dropped off items have created quite a problem for Goodwill. Bags of donated items are often left at the locations at night. By the next morning or afternoon when workers arrive the bags of donations litter the area. Many times bags of donated goods block the entrance to Goodwill and even surrounding businesses. Such is the case of the Goodwill in Montrose.

While Goodwill employees are grateful for the donations they are concerned about potential health and fire dangers when people drop, and in some cases throw, donated items near the centers.

The public is asked to respect the workers’ safety at local Goodwill sites and to wait until they are open to make a donation. To find the times to donate at Goodwill in La Crescenta call (818) 248-9923 or drive by when the big blue bins are out in front of the office; that is an indicator they are accepting donations. The donation center in Montrose, 2064 Verdugo Blvd., is temporarily closed. Goodwill in Tujunga is located at 6545 Foothill Blvd., (818) 353-9350.

  Mary Okeefe