Goodwill Program Teaching Children About Charity

A Goodwill program is showing South Carolina children what it's like to care for others.

Through the Carton of Caring program, children are offered a chance to buy a Learning Curve dollhouse for themselves and then fill the box with toys and clothes to give to the less fortunate.

For more information on the program, read the complete release below.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, CARING CORNERS® AND GOODWILL INDUSTRIES® TEAM UP TO HELP CHILDREN LEARN THAT IT’S BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE
The Carton of Caring® Donation Program helps children experience the joy of giving
Too often the season of giving turns into the season of ‘getting’ – especially for children. This holiday season, children in the Upstate and Midlands of South Carolina can begin learning what it feels like to give back to their local community. This first-of-its-kind partnership between toy-maker Learning Curve Brands, Inc. and Goodwill Industries is called the Carton of Caring® Donation Program. The program encourages charitable giving during the holidays, an important lesson of sharing and compassion that is never too early to learn.

This lesson of “giving not getting,” begins with the Caring Corners® Mrs. Goodbee™ Talking Dollhouse from Learning Curve Brands. The dollhouse, touted as one of the “Hot Toys of 2008” by The Today Show, is actually two unique gifts in one – a gift for the child to keep and a gift for her to give away. The first gift is the dollhouse, which helps children learn social and emotional skills in a fun, interactive way through imaginative play. That second gift – the giving part – comes to life with the Carton of Caring Donation Program. Children are encouraged to fill Mrs. Goodbee’s “Carton of Caring” (the box the dollhouse comes in) with gently-used clothing and toys and donate them to any of the 2,200 Goodwill stores nationwide and in Canada.

There is no better time to get children involved in the art of giving back than during the holidays. Donating is a simple caring act that can help expand a child’s world from “me” to “we.” When children donate their Carton of Caring, they will receive a Certificate of Appreciation from Goodwill Industries and earn a special online code that “unlocks” a Caring Corners web game available only through donation.

“Carton of Caring” clothing and toy donations will be sold in Goodwill stores, with proceeds helping to fund Goodwill’s job training programs and support services in the community. “Children can feel good because their donations will help people earn a paycheck and support themselves and their families,” says President and CEO Patrick Michaels. “Most important, the experience of giving lets preschoolers learn firsthand the satisfaction of helping others in their community.”

Goodwill donation centers are open seven days a week. Hours may vary by location.