In this blog we will list the most asked Goodwill FAQs, and try to provide answers to questions you might have
Goodwill Services
What happens after you graduate from a GWSV program?
GWSV provides assistance for individuals with barriers to employment and other life challenges including homeless veterans, veteran families, people in the criminal justice system, foster youth, at risk youth, people with developmental disabilities and individuals looking to improve their employment skills.
How is partnered with GWSV?
We proudly partner with Mission College, City of San Jose, Wells Fargo, EDD, Comerica Bank, Loaves and Fishes, Sunday Friends, The Opportunity Youth Partnership, and TeenForce.
What programs does GWSV offer?
We offer a range of programs including employment services, computer training GED classes, employment workshops, housing assistance, vocational training, credit recovery, and paid work experience. A full list of available programs is available on our home page.
What heppens after you graduate from a GWSV program?
Upon completion of a Goodwill of Silicon Valley program we offer comprehensive employment assistance.
Mission
Where does the money go?
Revenue from our retail and contract divisions are used to fund and support programs that will help empower the community and create self-sufficiency among the under-served.
How much does it cost to enroll in one of the GWSV programs?
We do not have any enrollment fees for our programs.
How many people are served?
In 2014, over 10,000 people received support from one of our many GWSV programs.
Which partnership does GWSV Mission have?
We proudly partner with the following companies; CalWORKS, Sacred Heart, Catholic Charities, InnVision, Emergency Housing Consortium, US Dept of Labor, CA Dept of Education, Veterans Administration, SurePath Financial, San Jose Unified School District, East Side Union High School District, Willow Glen High School, Mount Pleasant High School.
Employment
Where can I apply for employment opportunities?
You may apply in person, at 1080 N. 7th St., in San Jose at our General Information Session “GIS”. The sessions are every Tuesday at 8:30AM. Please arrive at least 30 minutes early.
How long will it take to process my application once it’s submitted?
Applications are all reviewed in a timely manner. However, we do not guarantee an interview. If there is an opening for a position, and you may be a good fit; we will contact you for an interview.
Should I call Goodwill to follow-up on my application?
No. We will contact you if there is a potential employment opportunity.
May I apply more than once?
You may re-apply every 3-6 months.
Retail Locations
Do I pay sales tax when shopping at Goodwill?
There is no sales tax applied to purchases at Goodwill. However, there is a CRV charge on commercial beverages.
What are store hours?
Retail Centers are open Monday-Saturday 9AM-9PM and Sundays 9AM-8PM.
Does Goodwill offer any discounts?
Yes, Seniors (55 and older) receive 10% off on Tuesdays and we also have 20% off for designated colored tags.
Can I purchase a Goodwill gift card?
Yes, gift cards can be purchased and used at all Goodwill of Silicon Valley retail locations.
Donations
Who will pick up my donation?
We recommend contacting College Hunks Hauling (1-800-461-5241) and they can pick-up donations on our behalf. College Hunks Hauling will pick up your donations for a fee.
Why Should I donate to GWSV?
All donations received from Goodwill go towards supporting our mission to support our employees, our customers, and people with challenging barriers to employment; to raise their standard of living and improve their lives through our services and social enterprise.
Where can I donate items?
You can take donations to any of our local trailer drop offs centers or local retail stores. For a list of places to donate click here.
What types of donations do you accept?
We accept a wide variety of items, ranging from clothing and toys, to electronics (working and non-working), furniture, and e-waste.
What don’t you accept?
We cannot accept large appliances, batteries, or hazardous materials.
Can I claim a tax deduction for donating my goods to Goodwill?
Yes, any trailer drop off center or retail location will gladly issue you a receipt if requested.
Does Goodwill Silicon Valley sell everything it receives in store?
We sell the majority of donated items in our retail stores; however, some items do go to specialty departments that sell to private vendors.
Does Goodwill of Silicon Valley accept mattresses?
You can drop-off old mattresses and/or box springs at any Goodwill retail store for a $20 fee per item.
What are the benefits to using the Online Donation App?
The biggest benefit of using our donation app is that you can reduce the time it takes you to drop off donations, especially during high volume drop off periods.
Hopefully those Goodwill FAQs answered the questions you might have had. Each program has their own set of Goodwill FAQs on their website.