Goodwill Manasota opens new donation center in Lakewood Ranch

Goodwill Manasota recently opened a new donation center in what it calls a strategic location. The nonprofit's latest attended donation center is at 7180 University Parkway in Waterside at Lakewood Ranch.

“Accessibility and visibility are key criteria for our sites, and this location meets both, while being at the heart of the vibrant Lakewood Ranch community,” Kimberly Glogovsky, Goodwill’s senior director of real estate, says in a statement. “We chose the Waterside location because of its prime position near University Parkway, offering our customers a quick and easy way to donate their gently-used items at Goodwill."

Goodwill reports that it is focusing its expansion efforts on “emerging residential areas,” especially east of Lorraine Road, where new home development is on the rise.

The new donation center, according to the statement, is 2,030 square feet. Goodwill occupies the center spot in the commercial strip, with a tenant on either side; it is flanked by Smoothie King and Dental Care at Lake Shores. Its “modern, fresh and clean appearance” aligns with the nonprofit’s emphasis on curb appeal, according to a statement.

“This new center reflects the welcoming environment we always aim to provide,” Glogovsky says in the statement.

It is within a relatively new shopping center owned by LWR Retail LLC and JFT Sarasota LLC, which are both linked to an address in Denver, Colorado. The companies purchased the building in May 2024 for nearly $5 million. It was constructed in 2023, according to LoopNet.

The goal of the new Goodwill donation center is to provide a convenient way for people to donate gently used goods while maximizing retail revenues. Once it receives donated items, Goodwill Manasota sells them at its retail stores in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, Hardee, Lee and Charlotte counties. In 2023, Goodwill Manasota posted $94.8 million in revenue, according to ProPublica.

Opening the new facility enabled Goodwill to create three new jobs, and these employees will accept donations daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

In 2023, Florida TaxWatch reported that one in 24 jobs in Florida was created by Goodwill. In its report, the government watchdog and taxpayer research institute found that in 2023, Goodwill Manasota diverted 50.6 million pounds of goods from landfills, generated $102.6 million in economic output and supported $16.5 million in additional personal income through job placements.