Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina (GIUMSC) is taking its mission and sustainability initiatives to the next level with the rapid expansion of their youth donation program, The Giving Locker. Originally launched as an on-campus donation hub at one local high school, the program is scaling up to empower students, families, and school communities across the region to turn everyday clutter into community impact.

Through custom donation bins placed on school campuses, The Giving Locker makes donating gently used clothing and small household items fast, fun, and accessible. The initial roster of participating schools includes Blue Ridge, Fountain Inn, Greer, Woodmont, and Eastside High Schools, along with the Golden Strip Career Center, and Northwood Middle School. Marking an exciting milestone for the program, Wofford College recently joined the initiative as the first local higher education partner, signaling the expansion of The Giving Locker onto college campuses.

“Wofford’s Office of Residence Life is excited to partner with Goodwill to provide students with on-campus options to donate items they no longer need. In alignment with Wofford’s values of sustainability, community, and global engagement, we hope to create an easily accessible way for students to minimize their environmental footprint and give back to the local community. Our friends at Goodwill have been exceptional partners to make this goal a reality,” said Kendra Ivins, Wofford College Director of Residence Life.

Revenue generated from items donated through The Giving Locker directly fund GIUMSC’s free job training, career development, and employment services, equipping local individuals with the tools needed to build sustainable lives through the power of work. The Giving Locker serves as an interactive educational bridge, teaching youth how their everyday choices create real-world change. Beyond fostering generosity, the program connects students with GIUMSC’s career and workforce development programs, showing them how opportunity is created.

Every item dropped into a Giving Locker bin directly supports the circular economy. GIUMSC diverts over 45 million pounds of usable goods from local landfills each year, offering students a tangible example of how environmental stewardship and community support go hand-in-hand.

By keeping reusable textiles and goods out of the waste stream, students see firsthand how their simple donations help protect the local environment.

“When students take the lead in giving back, it builds habits of service and awareness that last far beyond high school and college,” said Chunsta Miller, GIUMSC VP of Communication and Public Engagement. “Sharing this donation experience with youth connects them to something larger than themselves. They learn early on that a simple donation of goods can transform lives, fund career pathways, and protect our environment for the future. We are thrilled by the energy and passion these students are bringing to the program.”

For more information about The Giving Locker or to place a bin at your location, contact William Coates at wcoates@goodwillsc.org.