Just a few days ago, Goodwill of North Georgia said demand was surging in its stores and warehouses, a sign that hiring and operations could continue — or even expand — in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
But due to public health concerns surrounding the virus, Goodwill has decided to close its stores and "attended donation centers and career centers" across metro Atlanta and North Georgia starting Monday, Keith Parker, the president of Goodwill of North Georgia, wrote in a post Saturday. The nonprofit operates more than 65 stores across the region that will be closed for at least two weeks.
Goodwill, which offers guidance to job seekers, plans to continue paying its employees and providing benefits during the closures, Parker wrote. Workforce development programs that can continue safely will do so.
Parker urged residents to shop on its online store, continue dropping off donations at Goodwill stores and make monetary donations to the organization.
“Once we are all up and running, we will need your treasures to keep our stores up and running,” Parker wrote.
» COMPLETE COVERAGE: Coronavirus in Georgia
Tenee Hawkins, a Goodwill spokeswoman, said last week that demand had been strong, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday. Goodwill's career centers last year placed 25,000 people.
Retail chains across the nation are temporarily closing their doors to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
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