Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes celebrated the Grand Opening of its first Community Store and Donation Centre at 1110 Goderich Street (and Devonshire) in Port Elgin (Saugeen Shores) on Thursday, April 24th (2025).
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Almost 200 people stood in line on Thursday, May 24th, in anticipation for the doors to open at the new Goodwill store in Port Elgin (Saugeen Shores).
Goodwill is growing, creating new jobs and expanding its mission in Saugeen Shores. Goodwill was founded by Edgar J. Helms with the philosophy of “a hand-up, not a handout.” This mission is still true today. Goodwill doesn’t just give help to someone once, we believe in teaching people the skills they need to find sustainable success, whatever that may mean to the individual person.
In the newly opened Saugeen Shores facility, the 14,500 square foot space features 8,200 square feet dedicated to second-hand retail shopping and a convenient “drive thru” drop-off donation centre, serviced by trained attendants to assist donors. With the support of the recently opened Kincardine Donation Centre, this site aims to divert up to 2.4 million pounds of waste from Saugeen Shores landfill annually.
Goodwill is a non-profit, registered Canadian charity that operates as a social enterprise. Across Goodwill’s network of 24 conveniently located thrift stores and 40 donation centres in Ontario, donors fuel Goodwill’s mission by generously giving clothing, household, and consumer goods, repurposing over 55 million pounds of waste and helping to sustain the environment. Across the country, Goodwill spends about 82 cents of every dollar on programs and services for people in need.
“Goodwill is your destination to shop local, buy Canadian, and make a difference in your community,” said Bev Kobe, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes. “Every purchase or donation at Goodwill helps fund job training programs and employment opportunities for people facing barriers to work and also provide scholarships to employees. We are incredibly proud to expand our operations in Saugeen Shores, creating new jobs, helping consumers reduce their environmental impact, and providing families with access to affordable goods. We give a second life to items that someone may no longer need or want and divert from landfills.”
“When we set out to hire staff for our Port Elgin location, we partnered with local community service agencies VPI Employment Services and the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce,” says Natalie McMahon, Manager of the Port Elgin Community Store. “At the point of opening, we created more than 40 new jobs for the community. We are proud to team up with these agencies to help people find work at Goodwill and look forward to continuing this partnership as we grow.”
Scott Louch, COO of Goodwill Industries, said, “The community of Saugeen Shores has been extremely welcoming. It’s been amazing. We had 800 vehicles at the Donation Centre since we opened a few weeks ago. Our Donation Centre is extremely efficient as we work on the ‘River System’, which means a continual flow of merchandise. A vehicle that pulls up to the drive-thru Donation Centre is immediately serviced and the items removed to the Centre where everything is inspected and colour coded before going out on to the retail floor. The system ensures a consistent fresh renewal of items. Nothing stays on the floor for more than one month and, often less than that, so that there are new items daily.”
Deputy Mayor Diane Huber, on behalf of the Town and Council, welcomed Goodwill to the community. “I am certain the community will embrace this and that it will be a success. I think this will be an interesting mix to the activities in Port Elgin (Saugeen Shores). This is about people and the planet and I applaud the idea that sometimes things we don’t need are treasures that other people will need or will embrace with joy.”
For more than 75 years, Goodwill has served Ontario creating work opportunities, developing skills, and building community for people facing barriers to employment. The organization offers training, benefits, and wellness programs with the aim of graduating employees to a better job at Goodwill or in the community. Goodwill provides families access to affordable goods, while contributing to circularity by promoting consumer reuse and recycling.
About Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes: Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes is a non-profit, registered charity that provides work opportunities, skills development and employee and family strengthening for those who face barriers in the labour market. Our aim is to advance people and communities toward economic self-sufficiency and prosperity. Through our network of thrift stores, donation centres, and social enterprises, we generate revenue that directly supports our employment and training programs, sustainability initiatives, and community services. As a pioneer of the circular economy for decades, we are committed to environmental stewardship by diverting millions of pounds of goods from landfills each year, reinforcing our dedication to a greener future.
Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes is one of five Goodwills in Canada and part of a global network of Goodwill organizations, sharing a legacy of empowering individuals through education, employment, and economic mobility. Together, we are creating inclusive communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
For more information, visit www.goodwillindustries.ca or follow us on social media.
About Goodwill Industries International: Goodwill works to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by strengthening communities, building bridges to opportunity, and helping people in need reach their potential through learning and the power of work.
For more than 120 years, Goodwill® organizations across North America have helped people find jobs, support their families and feel the satisfaction that comes from working. There are 154 local Goodwill organizations that assist people through a variety of employment placement services, job training programs and other community-based services. Thousands of people receive employment and other human services through Goodwill, and in 2023, the organization helped more than 1.7 million people build skills, access resources and advance careers.
Goodwill sells donated items in more than 3,300 outlet and retail stores in the U.S. and Canada and online marketplaces. The revenue creates training programs and job placements to help people earn income and build their careers. www.goodwill.org
