One of the perks of working with Goodwill of Central Arizona for the Tour de Thrift is that they keep my up to date with all their events.
This Saturday, July 24, Goodwill be opening a new store out on Recker and Main in Arizona.

I plan to be there, not sure if it will be for the ribbon cutting or not, but I will be there. When you go, make sure you eat at El Metate. It is in the parking lot of the new Goodwill. It is delicious and affordable Mexican Food. My in-laws live in that general area and everytime we go out for a visit we get El Metate. Sometimes it is just take out to eat the next day, but we ALWAYS get El Metate. Hope to see you on Saturday! Drop me a note if you are coming and I will keep a look out.

Also, head on over to the Goodwill website and sign up for the e-mail list. They send you a coupon for 20% off your purchase. Woohoo! That is GoodwillAZ.org

Here is the press release with all the details.

Goodwill of Central Arizona prepares for grand opening in Mesa

(July 13, 2010) — Goodwill of Central Arizona is set to open its newest Goodwill store in Mesa on July 23. The new store and donation center is located at 6030 E. Main Street, near the intersection of Main Street and Recker Road. This new location will replace the nearby Goodwill store and donation center on Main Street, one block east of Recker Road.

“The new Mesa store will bring the Mesa community new jobs, a new, great place to shop and an easy way to donate their unwanted, gently-used household items” said Jackie Halleen, vice president of retail operations for Goodwill of Central Arizona. “Our newest location in Mesa is another way we’re supporting our commitment to turn donations into dollars that will help Arizonans in their quest for employment and economic sustainability.”

Goodwill of Central Arizona retail stores are the primary fundraising mechanism for the organization’s 36 human services programs. Goodwill stores also provide thousands of jobs for Arizonans and generate more than $60 million in revenue that directly supports the local economy.

The new, modern store features about 30,000 square feet of retail space as well as offers customers nearly 100,000 freshly-stocked items. Each Goodwill store also offers on-the-job training and skills development for participants while providing quality goods at remarkable prices. Treasures customers may find include new and gently used clothing, jewelry, furniture, electronics, house wares and toys.

Regular store and donation hours for the new Mesa location are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

With 63 years of serving central Arizona’s communities, Goodwill of Central Arizona is one of the oldest and largest nonprofit agencies in Arizona. Our Commitment is to Put People to Work throughout Arizona by providing job training and employment services to those with vocational disadvantages and disabilities that can include mental and emotional barriers, physical disabilities, welfare dependency, illiteracy and age. In 2009, we served more than 25,000 youth and adults on their quest toward self-sufficiency and secured more than 6,700 employment opportunities. For more information on Goodwill of Central Arizona, visit www.goodwillaz.org.

Hope to see you there!