Spring Street Trolley Station Parking Lot Is Hosting Goodwill Donation Center

When Goodwill Industries announced in July it was moving into the iconic Clocktower building in The Village, officials vowed not to let it become a drop-off point for used clothes, furniture and other items.

So where would people leave donations?

Thursday morning comes the answer—a collection point across Spring Street.

“Goodwill Industries of San Diego County is happy to announce the opening of a new donation center in the parking lot of the [Metropolitan Transit System’s] Orange Line Trolley Station off Spring Street … at 8:30 a.m. [Thursday],” said Sharon Corrigan, the charity’s spokeswoman.

Like other donor points, it will close at 5 p.m., she said.

“We look forward to welcoming new and repeat donors at the new center, and becoming an asset to the beautiful city of La Mesa.”

She said donations provide jobs for San Diegans, “and the fair market value of your items may qualify as a charitable contribution for tax purposes.”

The new donation center at 4250 Spring St. joins local collection points at 9100 Amaya Dr. and 7255 Alvarado Rd.—also trolley stations.

Corrigan said the Goodwill retail store will open in December. It will contain a corporate office on the second floor.

In July, Goodwill executive Beth Forsberg, attending a meeting of the La Mesa Village Merchants Association, said the city opposed the Clocktower building as a collection point, and “was not happy with” plans for a donation site at the nearby Vons shopping center, she said.

Village merchants expressed concerns about Goodwill’s clientele—and the potential of donated items being left at night at the Clocktower building, attracting scavengers—so Forsberg announced that Goodwill will hire a security guard to patrol the site after hours.

Goodwill’s collection point at the east end of the Amaya Trolley Station in La Mesa is kept spiffy, Forsberg said

“We are so appreciated at the trolley station,” she said in July. “We keep that whole trolley area clean. We get compliments all the time.”