Goodwill recognizes student volunteer efforts [VIDEO]

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5um_vX4nJI

Volunteer efforts of California State University, Fresno students in collecting donations for Goodwill Industries http://www.goodwill-sjv.org/ were recognized during the opening of the organization’s fifth store in Fresno.

At the grand opening Aug. 19 of the Goodwill store and donation center in southeast Fresno, Goodwill Industries of San Joaquin Valley President and CEO David L. Miller commended students for their help in launching the “Donate Movement” on campus.

The students collected clothing and other goods and challenged colleges throughout the country to join them. Their efforts contributed to inventory in the new store, Miller said.

Last October, students in the Craig School of Business’ Department of Marketing and Logistics undertook the donation project as part of a service-learning class assignment.

The marketing students also worked with Delta Upsilon fraternity. The marketing department is one of 30 academic departments at Fresno State that offers a service-learning course. Altogether, over 3,600 students provided in excess of 92,000 hours of service through these types of courses during the 2010-11 school year.

Goodwill produced a video featuring Fresno State students speaking about the collection effort. In addition, seniors Stephen Sylvester and Jesse McKlurkin were invited to represent the university at the Goodwill Delegates Assembly in Rochester, N.Y., in June, where Fresno State was recognized for its efforts. Sylvester and McKlurkin participated in a panel discussion highlighting college campuses around the country that played a leadership role in the Donate Movement.

Miller said the work of Fresno State students and the location of a Goodwill collection truck on Shaw Avenue near the Save Mart Center earlier this year were keys in the organization’s expansion effort.

Goodwill started its Fresno expansion, opening six Community Donation Centers in high traffic areas, such as busy intersections along Shaw, Herndon and Bullard avenues. The graphically colorful stand-alone units accept donations of clothing and electronics from the public and provided enough high quality merchandise to launch the southeast Fresno store.

The new store at 5150 E. Kings Canyon is Goodwill’s fifth store in the Fresno-Clovis area and its 17^th in the San Joaquin Valley.

Photo caption: Goodwill President and CEO David L. Miller in center, with Fresno State students Stephen Sylvester and Kao Sheng Moua.