CABOT — Most people love a bargain, and if one could help out a good cause, get a bargain and get rid of unwanted items at the same time, it might just be a perfect world.
A new Goodwill store and donation and career centers will open in the old Goody’s building in Cabot on Thurs. Dec. 16.
The new 18,000-square-foot Cabot store will be the 18th location for a Goodwill store in Arkansas; it is also the second largest store in the Goodwill chain and will create about 30 jobs.
“In preparation to opening the new store, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas will hold a hiring event on Wednesday for the new Cabot store and donation center,” said Susan Crossley, director of marketing and communications at Goodwill Industries of Arkansas. “At a time when Arkansans are needing jobs, we are excited to be expanding and with that expansion, bring new job opportunities to the area.”
The hiring event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the future site of the new store, 204 South Rockwood Drive in Cabot.
Goodwill will be looking to fill the following positions:
• Retail Store Manager
• Assistant Store Managers
• Retail Sales Associates
• Donation Attendants
The event is open to the public, and applicants are asked to bring a résumé or additional work history information. Job offers will be made at the event, contingent upon background check and other verifications, according to a press release from Goodwill.
A donation trailer that is parked in the parking lot at 204 S. Rockwood Drive in Cabot is already accepting donations. Once the store opens, a permanent drop-off center will be part of the new store.
Brian Itzkowitz, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, said members of his organization are excited about moving into the city.
“[Cabot] is a great and growing community, and we are looking forward to creating jobs and training opportunities, as well as offering great bargains,” he said. “The store is in great shape. It gives us a really large retail footprint in a great location.”
By either cleaning out a closet and getting rid of clutter and donating it to Goodwill or by purchasing household items or clothing from the store, it helps Goodwill improve lives. Goodwill resells the donated items through the store, and the proceeds support its job-training and placement programs that help people find and be prepared for jobs.
With the donation center on site, Goodwill workers sort the merchandise, first to see if it is in sellable condition. Then each piece is sorted and made ready for the sales floor.
“It is fairly quick,” Itzkowitz said. “It is also labor intensive. We have to sift through each piece by hand, and every one of them is different from the next.”
Household items, clothing and electronics may be dropped off at the Cabot location from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week at the temporary drop-off site. Goodwill takes donations of just about any household item, including furniture, computers, sporting goods, toys, small appliances and more. Decorative items, housewares and brand-name clothing are in especially high demand.
Anyone interested in a job at Goodwill may apply online at www.goodwillar.org.