Goodwill expanding in Central Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Three new Goodwill stores will open in the Austin area before the end of 2010. The charity has seen steady growth this year as more people are buying used and donating.

Lillian Vassberg is one of those shoppers Goodwill relies on.

"I've found a couple of treasures in the past," she said. "The prices are very good of course and to me it's just more like I never know what I'm going to find- what's going to be there and its kind of a treasure hunt."

Vassberg and her fellow shoppers will soon be shopping at a different location in Oak Hill. The charity is expanding to the old empty Albertsons building at the "Y" in Oak Hill. The new space is about 40 percent larger than the current facility.

"We appreciate what Austin has done for us," said Goodwill of Central Texas CEO and President Jerry Davis. "The growth is fueled by the donations of the public and the partnerships that we form with employers and we can never have too many."

The charity has seen a 3-4 percent growth in business since 2009, both in retail sales and in donations.

"We try to operate our charity as a business and I think the message of helping people get employed resonates very, very strongly right now," said Davis.

Charlotte Ballard and her daughter often shop at the store in Oak Hill.

"It's cheaper to bring her here than to take her anywhere else," said Ballard. "Times are tough and people want to save as much money as they can."

Goodwill is also expanding to Lakeway. A store on 620 will open at the end of September. Another store at Congress and Stassney will open in October and the expansion in Oak Hill should be ready to open in November.