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Year's last day big for deductible donations
By MOLLY MOORHEAD LAND O'LAKES -- The scene looked something like a shopping mall the day after Thanksgiving. Cars crept slowly in and out of the parking lot. Harried employees buzzed from one task to the next. Except at the Goodwill thrift store on State Road 54, the commotion on Tuesday was out back, where donations poured in by the truckload. Sales manager Tina Manning said New Year's Eve is the store's busiest day of the year. Every employee works. A giant trailer was filled to overflowing Monday, and even more was expected Tuesday. "This is our heaviest day for donations," Manning said. Many people have time off around the holidays, and they spend some of it cleaning out garages and closets. Kids are home from college getting rid of stuff they no longer use. And of course, it's the last day to make a donation to write off come April. "People want to make sure they get their tax deduction," said Laurie Jensen, the store's senior processor. "And they want to give to charities. They're trying to recycle their own stuff." Rebecca Heady, 46, of Wesley Chapel unloaded about a dozen bags of clothing from her Toyota sport utility vehicle Tuesday afternoon. Heady, who has two weeks off from her job in Hillsborough County schools, said she drops off items at Goodwill about twice a year and always gets a tax receipt. "We're able to itemize (our tax returns), and this helps," she said. Manning said many donors are also shoppers. "They donate at the back and drive around to the front to come in and go shopping," she said. "It's a revolving door." Jensen said donations in the past year have been of exceptional quality, particularly the furniture. People have given grandfather clocks, curio cabinets and computer desks, she said. Even the clothing, much of which is often too tattered to be resold, is in good condition. But not every charity experienced the same boom Tuesday. It was business as usual at the Salvation Army in Port Richey, said Jeanne Coulter, manager of the Center of Hope. It's just like any other day," Coulter said. "Actually, it's a little slow." But Coulter said the Salvation Army doesn't give receipts with a dollar value for donations, a bonus for people looking for tax deductions. Manning, at Goodwill, said at least 80 percent of people who donate this time of year ask for a tax receipt. The back of the receipt tells donors what programs they're helping to support, including workforce development programs and housing projects. "It's very important that they understand what their donations do, because without them we're nothing," Manning said. As Heady finished unloading the last clothing bag from her truck, she considered making another delivery and asked Manning a question heard over and over on Tuesday: "What time do you close?" Said Manning: "We're asked that today more than any other time of year because of tax purposes." -Molly Moorhead can be reached at (352) 521-5757, ext. 29 or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6108, then 29. Her e-mail address is moorhead@sptimes.com .
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