BEAT YEAR-END RUSH, GIVE TO GOODWILL EARLY

Goodwill Anticipates Surge of Donations Due to Holidays, Tax Season

(West Tenn.) — Middle Tennessee residents can help their communities and themselves by donating gently

used clothing and household goods to Goodwill before Christmas to beat the annual year-end rush.

Each year from Dec. 26-31, the number of donations at Goodwill Donation Express centers rises

dramatically. In 2015, donations on these six days rose by more than 50 percent compared to other days of

the year.

Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee depends on this surge of donations — as well as other donations

given throughout the year — to fund its mission of changing lives through education, training and

employment. Each year thousands of people in communities across Middle and West Tennessee benefit from

Goodwill’s free services.

The end-of- year donation rush is prompted in part by people cleaning out their closets, attics and garages to

make room for holiday gifts. But many donors also are seeking last-minute tax deductions.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when donating to Goodwill:

● Prepare an inventory of your items to be donated before going to Goodwill. The IRS allows a

deduction for each item, but it is up to the donor to estimate each item’s value.

● When decluttering your home, consider the One-Year Rule: If you haven’t worn it, used it or played

it in one year, it is probably time to donate it.

● Donors wishing to claim tax deductions for their donations can easily do so at

mygoodwilldonation.org, or they can request a paper receipt from the attendant when dropping off

their donations.

● Please remove hangers from clothing.

● If you have a single donation worth more than $500, you will need to complete IRS Form 8283. You

will also need a qualified written appraisal.

● Be certain you are donating to a legitimate charity. Resources for research include the Tennessee

Secretary of State’s Office and charity-rating agencies such as GuideStar.

There are more than 70 Donations Express Centers located throughout the 48-county territory, and most are

open seven days a week. Locations and hours can be found online at www.giveit2goodwill.org, under the

“Donate” tab.

About Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.

For nearly 60 years, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee has provided job training and job placement free of charge to people

with disabilities or other barriers to employment through the sale of donated items. In 2015, Goodwill served 36,081 people in Middle

and West Tennessee and placed 15,412 people in jobs. More information about Goodwill’s Career Solutions, retail stores and

donation centers can be obtained online at www.giveit2goodwill.org or by calling 1-800- 545-9231.