Goodwill of Middle Georgia is celebrating a brand new store in the Lake Oconee area at 1030 Lake Oconee Parkway. The new store has received more than 1,642 donations since opening its drop off boxes July 17.

One of the many highlights of the new store is the more than 14,000 clothing items and household garments, which will never sit in the facility for more than a month.

“We had over 400 people wrapped around the building on our Opening day,” said President and CEO of Goodwill of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, Jim Stiff, of the new location. “People came up to me and told me how long they had been waiting for a Goodwill facility to open up.”

The new store has set a goal to serve 1,000 people during the first year, with hopes of gaining 1,000 people every year to reach a goal of 6,000 people for the first five years. For every dollar spent in the facility, Goodwill can spend 84 cents to put into its job-generating program.

“Our goal is to place a minimum of 100 people into jobs during the first fiscal year and more than 750 in the first five years of operation. This represents new local payroll purchasing power of over $22 million added to the economy after five years. The donation drive-thru, store and Job Connection will also provide volunteer opportunities to area residents,” states a press release on the store opening.

A donation truck is also stationed outside Milledgeville’s Walmart and the hours to drop off items are from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Goodwill’s Job Connection is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Job Connection assists those who are actively looking for a job and acts as a link between job hunters and employers. Job seekers can learn new and marketable skills; re-work their resumes with professional help and enjoy career counseling from a trained professional in order to move in the direction best suited for them.

“Providing education, skills training and placement service for individuals with barriers to employment is only possible through the generous support we receive from our community,” said Stiff in the store press release. “With the community’s support, Goodwill will continue to expand the mission-based programs that help people find jobs and the programs that ultimately contribute to both human and economic development right here in the heart of Georgia.”

Store and donation hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. All of the items collected will be donated, recycled or reused in order to ensure that no article is wasted.

“The community is able to help their neighbor gain employment by doing two simple things,” Stiff said, “donation, and guilt-free shopping.”

To learn more about the new Goodwill store, call Ivey Hall, director of Volunteer Services at (478) 957- 9741. She is also available by e-mail at ihall@goodwillworks.org.