GOODWILL KEYSTONE HIGHLIGHTS SUSTAINABILITY AT INAUGURAL EARTH DAY EVENT

GOODWILL KEYSTONE HIGHLIGHTS SUSTAINABILITY AT INAUGURAL EARTH DAY EVENT

PA DEP Sec. Shirley, environmental leaders, and local students participated in the educational event

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Goodwill Keystone hosted its inaugural Earth Day celebration on April 22 at its Goodwill Outlet Center and Warehouse in Middletown, to engage students, environmental organizations, state and local leaders, and more for an interactive, meaningful day focused on sustainability and environmental stewardship.

From 9:30am-1:00pm at the facility, located at 1400 Aip Dr, Middletown, Pa., more than 70 local students and their teachers and family members, and many of Goodwill Keystone's partners, had the opportunity to experience why thrifting and recycling are important to the local environment and community.

The students explored four interactive stations: seed planting, educational tables, a scavenger hunt, and a warehouse tour. They also had the opportunity to meet and listen to sustainability leaders and ask them questions. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) Secretary Jessica Shirley attended, spoke to the students about the importance of Earth Day and taking care of the land, water, and air around them. Sec. Shirley also shared the Commonwealth's efforts to protect the environment across Pennsylvania communities. She then concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session with participants.

"What better way to spend Earth Day than educating local students, partners, and friends about how Goodwill Keystone and the community advances sustainability right here in central Pennsylvania?" said Bruce Brockman, VP of Sustainability, Operations and Logistics. "Last year, we recycled more than 1 million pounds of cardboard, recycled more than 2 million pounds of electronics, and collected nearly 12.3 million pounds of clothing, diverting waste from local landfills. Because of our generous donors and shoppers, and partnerships with all of the organizations that joined us at this event, our positive impact on the environment is significant."

Those leading the stations included, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Reworld, Waste Management, PA Recycling Markets Center, City of Harrisburg Parks & Rec, PA Association of Conservation Districts, Sierra Club PA Chapter, Sustainable Energy Fund, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Solar United Neighbors, Dauphin County Master Gardeners, and Penn State Harrisburg.

This first ever Goodwill Keystone Earth Day event introduced participants to Goodwill Keystone's local mission and environmental impact. The organization's mission to advance sustainability so that individuals and families can thrive and flourish was on full display at the event. Not only does Goodwill Keystone focus on the improving the environment, it prioritizes empowering and elevating people. Last year, 2,729 people received job training and employment services from Goodwill Keystone across its 22-county territory. In addition, 5,718 people received upskilling, financial and AI literacy, and other support services through the organization.

Learn more about Goodwill Keystone's impact by reading last year's Impact Report.

Explore photos from the event here.