Bridal shower spreads the love
By Lauren Cohen
It’s a special moment in any young woman’s life: you’re engaged to be married, weeks away from the big day, and your mom’s turned your bridal shower into a charity event? Wait, come again?
Here’s what happened: My mother Jan, who graciously hosted my bridal shower and is acting chief of People Services at SF Goodwill, asked guests to bring purses and jewelry to donate to Goodwill.
You may be thinking this has all the makings of a bad Kate Hudson movie, but there were no Bridezilla moments at this party. I thought this was a fantastic idea and was happy to donate as well.
Our guests, which included friends and family members who are as fashionable as they are giving, brought several trash bags filled with purses and costume jewelry that were then delivered to one of Goodwill’s more than 20 donation sites in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties.
Goodwill is always looking for high-quality women’s apparel, and my guests were happy to oblige.
Goodwill takes only the best of these donations, refurbishes them and offers them for sale through their eCommerce operations, which allows you to browse and shop online at their eBay and Amazon virtual stores. If you haven’t already, check it out. You’ll find designer handbags, vintage clothing and cute jewelry, among other great finds.
Meanwhile, my mom explained how our donations actually help create jobs and training services through Goodwill.
So next time you’re getting together with your girlfriends for a planned social occasion, why not use it as an excuse to bring the jewelry and purses you’re no longer using? You’ll be clearing much-needed closet space and helping Goodwill get the highest possible value for these items.
I was absolutely thrilled by the amount of items we received at my bridal shower. Everyone commented on how great it felt to be able to make room in our closets while at the same time helping such a good cause. My special occasion was made more special because we got to celebrate the love of two individuals and benefit a whole community. Talk about a match made in heaven!
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Your mom is awesome and so are you. From all the incredibly grateful men and women at Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin we are so greatful for the amazing generosity of you and your guests. These gifts will transform the lives of so many women and men and acquire the skills and knowledge to transform their lives through the power of work.
Thank you and have a glorious wedding.
Fondly,
Deborah Alvarez-Rodriguez
President & CEO and a big fan of Jan Cohen