Bon-Ton raises cash and 1.4 million pounds of donated items for Goodwill

Bon-Ton Stores Inc. collected $564,000 in cash donations and 1.4 million pounds of used clothing, textiles and household items from customers during its semi-annual Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale from March 15 through April 3, the company said Tuesday.

The cash amount was the most ever collected by Bon-Ton, which is the parent company of Boston Store and has dual headquarters in Milwaukee and York, Pa.

Revenue from the sale of the donated items at Goodwill stores in Bon-Ton communities will provide the means to create 250,000 hours of job training, skills development and other community-based services, the company said. During the 18-day sale event, customers dropped off donated goods and received coupons for up to 30% off new spring fashions.

“Goodwill would not be able to fulfill its mission without the generous donations that support our programs and services that help people build their skills and find jobs,” Kim Zimmer, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of global development of Goodwill Industries International, said in a statement. “We salute Bon-Ton and its wonderful customers for heeding the call to make a difference in their communities for people facing challenges to finding employment.”

As with all donations received by Goodwill, items collected during the Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale are sold in Goodwill stores, and the revenue from those sales is used to create employment training, skills development, education and job placement for people in local communities.

“We continue to be amazed and touched by the generosity of our customers during this signature cause-marketing event, now in its 23rd year,” said Kathryn Bufano, president and chief executive of Bon-Ton Stores.

Customers take part in the event twice a year – spring and fall – donating items they no longer need to Goodwill and saving on new merchandise at Bon-Ton. The Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale represents the largest and longest-standing cause partnership and department store donation drive for Goodwill.

Bon-Ton Stores operates 262 stores, which includes nine furniture galleries and four clearance centers, in 25 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Boston Store, Bon-Ton, Bergner’s, Carson’s, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s and Younkers names.