People taking the donations from Goodwill booth at park

By June Watanabe

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 25, 2012

~~<p>Question: I frequent the Hawaii Kai Dog Park and see, quite often, items being taken from the Goodwill booth at the Park ’n’ Ride after the booth is closed. Some people drop off their items after closure and leave them on the side of the booth. Then other people come and take things, and sometimes what they don’t want they throw into the bushes. While there are some who may be homeless taking the donations, we at the dog park have observed someone in a white panel truck coming in the mornings and taking whatever is there and someone in a SUV coming in the evenings and doing the same. We wonder if they take these items to be resold at swap meets or garage sales. The intention of the people who drop off is to donate to Goodwill. Isn’t there something Goodwill can do to rectify the situation — maybe a bigger booth so things are not left outside? Also, in rainy weather things get wet. Or would it help to alert donors that they should drop off their donations during the day while the booth is staffed?</p>
<p>Answer: Goodwill Industries of Hawaii said it appreciates you bringing this issue to its attention.</p>
~~

Question: I frequent the Hawaii Kai Dog Park and see, quite often, items being taken from the Goodwill booth at the Park ’n’ Ride after the booth is closed. Some people drop off their items after closure and leave them on the side of the booth. Then other people come and take things, and sometimes what they don’t want they throw into the bushes. While there are some who may be homeless taking the donations, we at the dog park have observed someone in a white panel truck coming in the mornings and taking whatever is there and someone in a SUV coming in the evenings and doing the same. We wonder if they take these items to be resold at swap meets or garage sales. The intention of the people who drop off is to donate to Goodwill. Isn’t there something Goodwill can do to rectify the situation — maybe a bigger booth so things are not left outside? Also, in rainy weather things get wet. Or would it help to alert donors that they should drop off their donations during the day while the booth is staffed?