Donation centers opened for two nonprofits

Two donation PODS were opened Thursday in Kihei and Pukalani to benefit Goodwill Hawaii and Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii.

The PODS are at the Kihei Recycling and Redemption Center on East Welakahao Road and in the Pukalani Longs Drugs parking lot.

The two nonprofit organizations recently formed a partnership to open the donation locations, according to a news release from Goodwill Hawaii, which will manage the operations for the donation centers.

“We believe in the mission and programs that Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii brings to the community and felt it was important to come together to support one another for the betterment of Maui’s families who are still dealing with the social economic impacts of the pandemic,” said Goodwill Hawaii president and CEO Katy Chen. “It’s gratifying to know that the revenue generated from the sale of donations collected will stay right here on Maui to help local people.”

Since the pandemic began, Goodwill has helped more than 2,000 people statewide to get job training and employment services to get back to work, according to the news release. Goodwill’s programs are supported by the sale of community donations in its thrift stores.

Ninety percent of the revenue generated in Goodwill’s thrift stores goes back into its programs that help more than 800 low-income families, people transitioning out of incarceration, adults with disabilities, atrisk youth and immigrants on

Maui, the news release says.

“We are grateful to Goodwill Hawaii for this partnership and stepping up to manage some of our donation centers as it allows us to focus our efforts on our youth mentorship and development services that we have been providing to the Maui community for 20 years,” said Dennis Brown, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii president and CEO. “The pandemic has only added to the burden that many of our youth face and it’s important that we continue to put their needs at the forefront.”