When Judy Payne, founder of Goods Bank NEO commits to an idea, she does whatever it takes to make it happen. “My gut told me that this was the right thing to do for our community. What I didn’t realize is how fast that would prove to be true,” explains Payne, who also founded the Kids’ Book Bank in 2016. A community resource center dedicated to providing nominally priced new goods to nonprofit organizations to stretch their impact, the Goods Bank just celebrated its first birthday and is already improving the lives of individuals and their families.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
We like to say that our job at Goods Bank NEO is to stretch the impact. We help organizations get what they need for a nominal fee (and sometimes for free) so they can better support the people they serve. Once an organization becomes a member, they gain access to the goods at our warehouse on Bittern Avenue. Here we’ve got the goods and then some—furniture, home goods, clothing, cleaning and hygiene supplies, electronics, even a kitchen sink! Members shop and then use the items for operations, programs or distribute the goods to the communities they serve.
WHERE DO THE GOODS COME FROM?
As a designated Community Redistribution Partner of Good360, we have relationships with national retailers including Amazon, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Nike, CVS and more. We also have several Northeast Ohio businesses who have partnered with us. In- stead of sending their overstock or returned items to a landfill, these retailers deliver them to us. Once we sort and display the items, they become available to member organizations.
BY THE NUMBERS: — 1 Year Since We’ve Been Open —
• 15,000 square feet warehouse
• 200 organizations and agencies that have become members
• 1+ million people served by member agencies
• 1+ million dollars’ worth of goods purchased at a cost of $75,000 to members
• 1.2 million dollars’ worth of hygiene products and toys given away
• 20 truckloads of product received
• $2 million worth of goods distributed
• 23,500 new toys given away from
Toys for Tots
• 3 truckloads of hygiene and cleaning supplies given away
Value to the Community: Incalculable
WHAT MEMBERS ARE SAYING:
Many people can survive without things like hygiene products, special- ized baby bottles, laundry detergent, etc. But having access to products like the Goods Banks provides takes a weight off our clients. It can sometimes feel like the last step between surviving and thriving.
Chloe Francis, Home Delivery Coordinator, Greater Cleveland Food Bank
“Through our collaboration with Goods Bank NEO, The Basic Needs Resource Center at The Centers has been able to expand resource offerings while also saving thousands. The staff at Goods Bank helped our program to provide toys, clothing, and household items to Cleveland families in need for the 2022 holiday season. Because of our partnership, The Basic Needs Resource Center was able to serve nearly 1,000 individuals for a fraction of the cost when compared to other suppliers. Goods Bank NEO is an invaluable resource for area nonprofits and is already playing a large role in reducing the number of people living in our community that are forced to go without. I look forward to many more collaborations with this powerhouse of an organization in the near future! It’s always the highlight of my day to walk through your doors!”
Andrew Bidwell, Basic Needs Resource Center (BNRC) Coordinator
HELP US DELIVER THE GOODS:
There are so many ways to get involved.
• Volunteer at the warehouse
• Host a collection drive
• Sponsor a hygiene truckload
• Make a financial contribution
