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Lebanon Goodwill provides good bargains, good jobs

Faye Bengal demonstrates Thursday, July 22, how she sorts donations at the Lebanon Goodwill store on Ohio 123. Bengal is one of several special needs employees of the store.

Justin McClelland/Staff Reporter Faye Bengal demonstrates Thursday, July 22, how she sorts donations at the Lebanon Goodwill store on Ohio 123. Bengal is one of several special needs employees of the store.

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By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer 12:14 PM Thursday, July 29, 2010

LEBANON — Faye Bengal scanned the racks of clothing lining the floors of the Lebanon Goodwill store. Instead of looking at the clothes — Bengal is not here to shop — she carefully found the tag on each sleeve and scanned it. Some met her approval and are returned to the rack while others are pulled out and placed in a basket.

It’s work that can be tedious from time to time, but for Bengal it instills a sense of pride in a job well done.

Bengal, 31, of Loveland, has developmental disabilities and has been working at the Lebanon Goodwill store five days a week since its opening in May.

Bengal is one of seven individuals in the store’s training program for persons with special needs. Each of these employees work with supervisors and case workers to establish personalized goals to improve work habits and communication skills.

“I work five days a week and love my paychecks,” Bengal said.

Goodwill’s mission includes providing a variety of community-based work opportunities for individuals with special needs as well as providing affordable merchandise at its retail outlets. The Lebanon Store on Ohio 123 is operated by Ohio Valley Goodwill, which serves more than 500 individuals throughout its Cincinnati base. The Lebanon store, in particular, provides opportunities for individuals served through the Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Work options include retail merchandising, donation acceptance, display assembly and price tagging.

Ann Wolters, sales manager for Goodwill, said people had been responding well to the newly opened store in both donations and sales.

“The economy is affecting shopping,” Wolters said. “This is where you go to get the most bang for your buck.” Wolters said most people don’t realize that deduction made to Goodwill are tax deductible and donors often make more from donating clothes to Goodwill than selling them at a garage sale.

Bengal’s mother, Jifcq Bengal, said her daughter has excelled in her job and is excited to be part of the work force.

“She like working, she likes talking with customers, and she really likes making money,” Jif Bengal said. “Faye comes home excited every day.”

A second Goodwill store run by the Dayton-based Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley opened in Lebanon earlier this year along U.S. 42 in the Walmart complex.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.