Goodwill and the St. Louis Cardinals Host Earth Day Drive: Computers, Electronics, & General Donations

    ST. LOUIS, MO, April 17, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- MERS/Goodwill is partnering with the St. Louis Cardinals for the sixth annual computer, electronics, and general donations drive. April is a season for baseball, spring cleaning and recycling with this year's Earth Day falling on Friday, April 22. The donation drive will be held on Earth Day, Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Busch Stadium Lot C Parking Lot, located at the northwest corner of 8th Street and Cerre Street, immediately south of I-64/40.

"We can't wait to host the annual donation drive with the Cardinals on Earth Day again this year," said David Kutchback, interim president and CEO of MERS/Goodwill. "By donating electronics or other items to Goodwill, we are able to put those donations into our stores and the funds into our programs, in turn changing lives through the power of work, which is our mission."

The drive will accept donors' unwanted computers and computer accessories (e.g., mouse, keyboard, etc.), phones (home and cell), clocks, VCRs, DVD players, stereos and AV equipment including cable and satellite boxes, and other devices with a cord, plug or battery will be accepted along with general donations. Those who donate during the Earth Day drive will receive 50 percent off vouchers for upcoming games, restrictions apply. All items will be accepted free of charge, and donors do not need to sort their items prior to dropping them off.

New this year, MERS/Goodwill will no longer accept donations of televisions at this drive. However, they do accept donations of working flat screen televisions at their stores. Although electronic donations have not been limited in the past, low demand for these older televisions and difficulty in properly recycling them results in little to no sales for MERS/Goodwill stores and has little benefit to the nonprofit's community programs. Televisions, considered "Universal Electronic Waste," have a regulated and more complicated recycling process than other items such as computers. In 2014, half a million dollars was spent by the organization in labor and transportation costs required for recycling. A significant amount invested into recycling older televisions would better benefit the programs provided by MERS/Goodwill to the community.

As computers are donated to MERS/Goodwill, the organization recycles them through its internal computer deconstruction program called Computer Works, which provides one-on-one job training and development for individuals with Development Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Demanufactured computer components are responsibly handled to keep them out of landfills by either recycling them directly, or by working with other companies which break down the material further into precious metals and other valuable raw materials. Computers are handled according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources guidelines, and are either demagnetized or physically broken apart. Donors have peace of mind knowing that their information has been properly deleted.

"All efforts to recycle used goods keep material out of our landfills and help our stores generate revenue to advance our mission and programs," remarked Kutchback. "The level of support we get from the St. Louis community from this event is tremendous and we look forward to another great turnout."

Participants will receive a tax receipt for their donation. Fans can also donate to any of MERS/Goodwill's 43 stores and donation centers during the Cardinals regular season and receive a half-price ticket voucher for an upcoming Cardinals game. All MERS/Goodwill stores and donation centers accept all types of electronics with the exception of televisions, year-round, free of charge.

About MERS/Goodwill
MERS/Goodwill changes lives through the power of work. Its vision is a community where each individual has the opportunity to learn, work, and achieve their greatest potential. Annually serving more than 69,000 individuals, the non-profit agency operates in 75 locations serving 89 counties in the bi-state area. Revenues from 43 Goodwill stores assist with funding MERS/Goodwill job training and employment services. MERS/Goodwill is a proud member of the United Way. For more information about MERS/Goodwill or to find a Goodwill donation center near you, call 314-241-3464 or visit http://www.mersgoodwill.org.

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