Goodwill to open some stores in Kern County on Saturday

HALF OF THEM WILL OPEN TOMORROW,INCLUDING THREEIN BAKERSFIELD AND THE TAFTLOCATION.THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN LOOKING TODONATE THOSE OLD CLOTHES, BOOKS,OR TOYS HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GOTO A GOODWILL STORE IN ABOUT TWOMONTHS.

THE PANDEMIC SHUTTEREDALL 8 KERN COUNTY LOCATIONS, BUTNOW 4 OF THEM ARE BACK OPENFOR DONATIONS AND SALES.

THESTORES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIESAND DONATIONS TO PEOPLE WITHBARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT."THOSE BARRIERS CAN RANGEANYWHEREFROM PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES,TO PEOPLE WITH SOCIALDISADVANTAGES, ACRIMINAL BACKGROUND, SO WE KINDOF TAKE A BROAD SWATH THERE, BUTTHAT'S PRIMARILY WHERE YOURDONATION GOES."THE STORES OPENING ARE THELOCATIONS IN NORTHWESTBAKERSFIELD ON COFFEE ROAD,SOUTHWEST BAKERSFIELD ONMING AVENUE, EAST BAKERSFIELD ONOSWELL STREET,AND IN TAFT ON FINLEY DRIVE.DONATIONS HAVE BEEN OPEN ATTHOSE STORES SINCE MONDAY.

ANDSLAYTON SAYS, SO FAR, THEPROCESS HAS GONE WELL."BASICALLY THE DONOR DRIVES UP,AND WE JUST BASICALLY HAVE BOXESOUTSIDE THAT ARE CATEGORIZEDAND THE DONOR DROPS IT OFFTHEMSELVES INSTEAD OF US COMINGOUTSIDE, NORMALLY WE WOULD JUSTTAKE IT OUT OF THEIR CAR." ANDTHAT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY THATSTORES ARE MODIFIED TOACCOMMODATE PUBLIC HEALTHCONCERNS."ALL THE EMPLOYEES WILL HAVEFACEMASKS.

THE CUSTOMERS WE AREREQUIRING TO WEAR FACEMASKS ASWELLBECAUSE THE STORES CAN GETREALLY BUSY AND A LOT OF PEOPLECAN BE IN THERE SOWE WANT TO PROTECT EVERYONE."LIKE MANY OTHER STORES, GOODWILLWILL ALSO HAVEPLEXIGLASS SCREENS AND SOCIALDISTANCINGMARKINGS ON THE FLOOR FOR WHENCUSTOMERS SHOP...GOODWILL SAYS THEY HAVE ATENTATIVE PLAN TO SOON REOPENTHE OTHER LOCATIONS IN KERNCOUNTY, BUT THEY AREHOLDING OFF ON ANY ANNOUNCEMENTSUNTIL THEY SEEHOW THIS FIRST PHASE OFREOPENINGS GO.

IN BAKERSFIELDAUSTIN WESTFALL 23ABC CONNECTINGYOU.AND WE HAVE A NEW SECTION ON OURWEBSITE RIGHT NOW...CALLED "WE'RE OPEN AGAIN."