PETITION: Save the Goodwill Outlet Bins in Heidelberg, PA
Address: 1905 Washington Street, Heidelberg, PA 15106
To: Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania Leadership

We, the undersigned members of the Southwestern Pennsylvania community, urgently request that Goodwill SWPA reconsider the decision to convert the Heidelberg Goodwill Outlet Bins into a traditional retail store.

The Heidelberg Bins location is more than just a place to shop — for many, it is a livelihood and a crucial community resource that:

• Provides extremely affordable goods to individuals and families in need
  
  
• Supports small resellers, thrifters, and entrepreneurs who rely on bulk purchasing to earn full-time or supplemental income
  
  
• Enables international and immigrant community members to purchase large volumes of items that typical resellers overlook, shipping them to their home countries for resale — providing critical income while keeping thousands of pounds of goods out of landfills
  
  
• Offers a pathway to financial independence for people with limited employment opportunities
  
  
• Creates meaningful employment locally, as Outlet operations often require more staff than a standard retail store
  
  
• Plays a significant role in reducing waste by keeping large volumes of goods in circulation rather than in landfills
  
  

Maintaining an Outlet in Heidelberg is essential because there are already retail-only Goodwill stores nearby — only 12 minutes away in Banksville and 15 minutes away in Robinson — meaning a retail store at this location would be redundant and would not serve the unique needs that only the Bins currently fulfill

Converting this location into a retail store would eliminate access to affordable, volume-based inventory and remove a vital support system for resellers and low-income shoppers. This change would directly harm individuals who rely on the Outlet as a primary source of income and stability, and it stands in contrast to Goodwill’s mission of empowering people through opportunity.

We respectfully urge Goodwill SWPA to:

• Reconsider the conversion of the Heidelberg Bins, or
  
  
• Provide an alternative solution, such as:

                  Maintaining a partial Bins section at the existing location

                  Offering specific Outlet days each week

                  Relocating the Outlet Bins to another accessible facility nearby

Our community depends on the resources, affordability, and opportunities that only an Outlet Bins model can provide. Removing this service would have real and lasting consequences for countless local residents ans beyond.

We ask Goodwill SWPA to listen to the voices of the community, engage in open dialogue, and uphold its commitment to supporting the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Please sign to show your support for preserving the Goodwill Outlet Bins in Heidelberg, PA.