ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s a mad rush to the blue, clothes-filled bins inside the new Goodwill Outlet in Pine Hills.
- Goodwill outlet store opens in Pine Hills
- New store features job center to help people find jobs
Customers frantically grab for the best finds out of an assortment of clothing.
"This is the first Goodwill in this community," said Tiana Grau, Goodwill Outlet General Manager.
The number of people inside make it hard to believe it’s only been open a week.
"Most of them, it is closer to their homes and they really don’t have to travel that far," said Pearl Charlery, a Goodwill employee.
Charlery’s knows her customers well, smiling and saying hi to almost everyone in the store as if they were her best friend.
"Ninety-five percent of them that come here are Haitian," she said. "I learned the language, yes, I am not Haitian, but I did learn the language."
She is the only employee in the store that speaks creole.
"Yes, I love it. I love it here," Charlery said. "Because I have an opportunity to help them out."
Plus, the prices are helping the people in Pine Hills who often must stretch the dollar a bit further than most.
"Mothers and fathers and ya know, kids for school and things like that. Instead of spending things like $10 on a pair of jeans, they can get a half a cart for $10," Grau said.
On top of the good prices, a job center is also a part of the new store. In the next month, Goodwill’s Job Connection Xpress will help residents find local jobs.
"The first day we opened, I had at least 10 to 15 ask me, how do I apply?" Grau said.
Already the store now has 21 employees, all living in the surrounding area.
"A lot of people are saying Pine Hills and they are thinking the worst. But I feel like this store is the best thing that ever happened to Pine Hills right now," Charlery said.
To learn more about Goodwill, click here.