Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Pennsylvania started in Pittsburgh in 1919. They currently serve southwestern Pennsylvania and north central West Virginia, helping people with jobs, clothes, cars and in other ways as well. In order to help people, they need donations . That’s where you come in.

In Southwestern Pennsylvania, Goodwill Industries has over 20 regional stores and other businesses to bring in revenue to help support their local programs. To operate these stores and to bring in the revenue to support their programs for the less fortunate, they need donations – everything from clothes to couches to cars .

Like other Goodwill Industries locations around the county, Pennsylvania needs help. Donating a car will not only help you (by clearing out your garage and giving you a possible tax deduction), but it also helps people in the local community. Whether you live in Pennsylvania or somewhere else, Charity Dispatch can help you with the process of donating your car, an important part to Goodwill Industries in Pennsylvania.

The Goodwill Auto Auction is located at 75 Billot Ave, just off Route 30 in North Huntingdon, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Every Tuesday a new car auction is held. The car you donate may end up in the auction, made available to someone who could really use it. Not all Goodwill Industries locations have an auto auction, but the one in Pennsylvania has helped a lot of people over the years.

Building a community is what it’s all about . You might not think that donating your old car could help build community, but organizations like Goodwill Industries and Charity Dispatch can use your car or vehicle donation to help people. They need someone to donate, though – cars, clothes, couches – whatever. Goodwill Industries in Southwestern Pennsylvania uses the donations to help people better their lives.

Many people would like to donate a vehicle but are unsure about whether or not the proceeds from the vehicle donation really will go to a good Goodwill program. Fortunately, there are some endeavors one can take in order to ensure that the proceeds go directly to non-profit organizations.

Here are some frequently asked questions that some people have concerning Goodwill vehicle donation programs.

1. What percentage of the proceeds will go to a charitable program or service?

As long as the program is legitimate, then all the proceeds will go toward Goodwill. Doing a little prior research can help you determine if the chairty is legit. This will allow you to choose a charity that is right for you.

2. What type of vehicles can be donated?

The more appropriate question would be, “What type of vehicles CAN’T?” Just as long as they’re in good condition, cars, trucks, RV’s, motorcycles, campers, boats, etc. can be donated.

3. When I donate my vehicle, does it have to be in good condition?

The really depends on the program. Some places will only accept running cars or trucks while others will take just about anything, just as long as it can be fixed up and sold at a decent price.

4. Will I have to take my vehicle somewhere in order to donate it?

Nope! The best programs will have it towed for you. Everything will be taken care of . All you have to do is contact them and show them proof of ownership.

5. Can I really get a tax break if I donate a vehicle?

Yes! First, you need to check to make sure that the organization you’re donating to is approved by the IRS as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. You should also ask for the company’s federal identification number beforehand.

Goodwill® has been training and helping people find jobs for more than a hundred years. The assistance that Goodwill® provides people in need of a job is needed even more now as the job market continues to remain dismal. Goodwill® continues to train people for opportunities in every field as well as their program in Environmental Services. Students are offered a number of things with this program such as, job search, skill training, conflict resolution and goal setting . This useful training program, that helps students get real world experience while they search for a job, is made conceivable through a grant to Goodwill® from TD Bank. True to Goodwill® style, the training program not only benefits students but the environment as well, as the program is considered to be environmentally friendly. Even with grants and partnerships, Goodwill® still depends on donations of all kinds including car donation. During tough times finances are even tighter for many organizations, but if you find yourself with an unwanted car, donate a car to Goodwill® and help somebody find an opportunity.

Right now we may not be able to bank on the economy and things are uncertain, but one thing is certain. Goodwill® continues to deliver the goods by training people on how to get a job and keep a job. Car donation has always been a part of Goodwill’s® history and when you donate a car to Goodwill® you can be sure that your donation matters. Goodwill® is proud to say that more than eighty-percent of donation funds go instantly to the programs they provide to the disabled and disadvantaged community. When you donate a car to Goodwill®, your auto donation is a valuable resource in helping Goodwill® continue the work they do. You may be experiencing tough times of your own, but if you have a job you can help  somebody else find a job too by supporting Goodwill® through vehicle donation. That car you no longer need or want can help someone else realize financial independence when you donate a car. As the year comes to a close and we hope for a better 2010, you can give someone else a head start when you donate a car to Goodwill®.

Many people provide assistance to The American Red Cross by donating money and giving blood . While these and other donations are invaluable sometimes we overlook other ways in which we can provide assistance. Something you may want to consider is car donation . The American Red Cross accepts any type of vehicle whether it is running or not and uses the money made from the resale of the car to help provide relief to families in need. One of the benefits of vehicle donation is that not only are you helping others in need but you also receive a tax deduction if your vehicle sells for more than $500.

We are all well aware of the terrible storms that have held many parts of the United States in an icy grip this winter. One of the worst affected areas has been Southern Missouri and Illinois with many people losing power to their homes. In that area more than 217 volunteers from the American Red Cross have been assisting with the relief effort providing over 43,000 meals and snacks to people affected by the storms. The St Louis Chapter of The American Red Cross has sent 16 volunteers to help with relief efforts .

The assistance provided by the St. Louis Chapter to the victims of this emergency would not be possible without donations from people like you. Campaign to Aid Relief Services (CARS) was recently launched by The American Red Cross . This campaign has been launched to highlight one of the great ways you can support The American Red Cross in the St. Louis Chapter as well as nationally. To donate a car, or other vehicle to the American Red Cross you can either phone the 24-hour hotline on (314) 516 CARS, or fill out an application form online. Vehicles are usually picked up within 24 hours of your donation. Although the CARS campaign is running now, The American Red Cross gratefully receives vehicle donations at any time.

If you’ve ever shopped a Goodwill® store you might not know that many of the store’s employees are people who Goodwill® trained and put in those jobs. Goodwill® has been providing education, employment and career services for more than a hundred years. What many people may not know is that Goodwill® goes beyond the basic job skill training and holds life skills workshops to anyone interested. Some of these workshops, like Money Matters, Rent Matters and Food Matters, help people increase the everyday life skills required to not only work and keep a job but  control their funds to better their lives and their families. Goodwill® knows that finding a job isn’t enough. Being able to have a job and keep that job can mean the difference between being homeless or having a home. Though Goodwill® is always in need of clothing and household donations, Goodwill® also uses car donation to fund these and other services they provide to the disabled and disadvantaged community. When you donate a car to Goodwill® your auto donation provides the funds needed to provide training that teaches people how to balance their time to establish a long term relationship with their employers.

Besides teaching people job skills and employment skills, Goodwill® workshops, like the Rent Matters workshop, teaches people how to comparison shop for housing. Though to some people many of these life skills may seem like just basic skills, demand for services that Goodwill® offers has risen since the recession and vehicle donation has become even more important than ever. With so many people being displaced due to downsizing or companies leaving their area, Goodwill® continues to  depend on people who can donate a car to keep these life-sustaining programs accessible to the people who need them most. For people who are entering the work force for the first time, Goodwill’s® programs can give them an edge in obtaining a job. There are few organizations that do the work that Goodwill® does and when you donate a car to them you will know that you are truly making a vital donation. Your vehicle donation is a lifeline for the people who come into Goodwill® looking for work skills and support. With your car donation you are helping somebody learn needed skills, find a job and get a second chance in life.

Though most people would not think of Goodwill Industries right off hand when they think of the trendiest business plans out there, they surely deserve a mention in today’s business climate. The reason for that is because Goodwill is going trendy in an effort to relate to younger probable donors. Young people are some of the people most likely to make donations, so the new Goodwill plan is making it easier for young folks to get in the act.

If you are just out of college or still in school, it’s not likely that you are going to donate your car, but that does not mean that you have to stand on the sidelines. This is why Goodwill is changing their image a little bit, in an effort to charm you even if you can’t donate your car to the charity.

At Goodwill Industires, some of the best work goes on . These places are all over the place, and they represent another revenue stream for the charity. If you can’t donate your car to the charity effort, then you can at least spend a few dollars in the stores. This is what they are hoping for out of young people, and it is why they have filled the stores with lots of very nice, attractive stuff.

The stuff that you can buy in the Goodwill Industries stores is somewhat retro right now, though. Vintage is the word that they like to describe their selection, and young folks seem to really like it. From old t-shirts to old jeans, there are some great items that might remind you of the 1980s. Even if your current situation doesn’t permit you to donate your car to charity, the stores can be a place for you to get into the act in a big way.

Goodwill Industries wants just about everyone to be involved, and because of that, they are doing more advertising of their “other” programs. Among them, the retro and vintage gear that you can buy are very significant to the overall effort.

In communities throughout the country, the Red Cross teaches preparedness and prevention . When people are not prepared for the worst, disaster may strike whether it’s a storm, fire or flood. When disaster strikes and people in dire circumstances need food and shelter, they can count on the Red Cross to be on the scene. Whether natural disaster or the devastation of a home fire, people are often displaced and need immediate temporary shelter. Clothing, blankets, food and personal items are often destroyed leaving people with nothing to call home . When you donate a car to the Red Cross your auto donation enables the Red Cross to provide the food and shelter displaced people need. The Red Cross counts on the people who can donate a car to keep meeting the needs of displaced people. Vehicle donation is a reliable source of funds even during tough economic times. For every car donation that the Red Cross receives another person will be fed and sheltered as they struggle to recover from disaster.

Whether due to storms or fire, the Red Cross sees an increase in the number of displaced people in need of shelter and food during the winter. Fire is a common cause of homelessness during winter and people in houses and apartment buildings often find themselves without shelter during the coldest conditions. When you donate a car your auto donation helps the Red Cross aid displaced people by providing food, snacks and temporary shelter until they can find somewhere to go. The Red Cross would have limitations on how many people they could help without your donation . Especially during these tough ecomic times, when most people don’t have money to spare to donate, car donation means that anyone with an unwanted car can help someone else in need. This winter you can help feed and shelter displaced people who have fallen victim to disaster with your auto donation.