Weeks 6-7 at Goodwill

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Instead of doing two separate posts on my weekly reports, I decided to do a two-for-the-price-of-one post to get you caught up on how I'm doing at Goodwill so far. Two weeks ago, they started tracking our sorted laundry carts with name cards to place on the top or the side when we're done. They all started doing quality control checking with the racks, though it's been reported that some clothes were brought up with stains and other issues. The manager and assisted manager wanted me and two other textile processors to clear a bin per hour. For me, it would be 4-5 bins for my shift. Though they said to do the best we could by putting it down on the roster, I'll be happy to reach 2 bins and maybe a little more if I'm lucky. What slows me down is if it's on the hanger, like it's for dry cleaning and I have to remove the plastic wrapping. Some clothes have been brought new with tags and unused. A majority of them are good, but other times it's stained or has pet hair, and has to tossed into the salvage bin. It's a shame. On Sunday March 5th, the tracking system started for everyone this month. And I considered it a fluke day. I managed to clear 1.85 bins. I was still inching closer to reaching my two-bin goal for March. I filled 4.5 laundry carts with sorted clothes. I would probably never top that again, though I average 2-3 bins per shift, which is as good as it gets. That following Monday,March 6th, I cleared 1.65 bins and did 15 minutes of recovery upstairs. Still not too bad at the least. On Tuesday, March 7th, I only cleared 0.45 bins. It was another weekly purge the gaylord boxes day. This time, we only kept the nice looking donated clothes and tossed the rest into salvage. On Wednesday, March 8th, I cleared 1.65 bins again, picking up steam and inches closer to my monthly goal. On Thursday, I cleared 1.95 bins, which is almost two bins that I reported on the roster that day. If I had fifteen more minutes, I would've cleared the bottom of the bin. But this wasn't so bad after all. I knew I would hit 2 bins in no time... This is what I considered my high week. A week ago today, I cleared two bins with this estimation: (0.65 from a bin that was leftover from last Sunday's meeting, and 1.35 bins I've done at my own.) Mission accomplished. Therefore, I've set my new goal between last week and next weekend to clear three bins. Could I do it? Yes I could. When Danielle visited to check in last week, it was considered a slow week, due to the amount of donated items that filled the bins. But in the summer, I have to be faster, due to yard sale/garage sale donations, etc. And I told her that's what I'm working on to get to that point for summer, and maybe be a processor too. And then, the down week started last week, which was okay. Last Tuesday, I cleared one bin and had to do two hours for Good Academy e-learning for the remainder of the day. Last Wednesday, I cleared one bin: (finished one bin that was leftover at 0.65, and started a new one before my shift ended at 0.35). Last Thursday, I cleared one bin and did 1.5 hours for Good Academy e-learning for the rest of the shift, including some recovery and pulling clothes from the racks upstairs for 30 minutes. My brother and Danielle had met two weeks ago in a meeting to take care of my local DD's bridge support new application and paperwork at the local library. He told her what he had from our late mother and gave her what she needed for Bridge Support. She also told her what services I should be accepted for like transportation (I might get it for free, which is ok for me), and for help with cleaning around the house whether I stay put or move at some point. Of course, he would bring it up again. Though I do clean for 20 minutes before I leave for work and finish when I'm home later in the afternoon, I'm not tired after work. I told him I would only use some of their services on a when needed basis: when I move out (kitchen stove, bathroom sink), or when I'm sick/injured/hospitalized. As for now, I'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Danielle had sent in the new application. All I've gotten was a thank you email for the referral and to sign the forms I've gotten back from them. And that's all I've told her so far. We still have a 30-60 day waiting period, though Danielle might have to ask Jamie for an extension in 5 weeks, before her time runs out with me. I still hope to learn how to tag and hang clothes on the rack with Danielle, whether it's extended or not. That's still my main goal too. Lastly, starting next week, my new 20-hour work schedule, I'm off on Sundays-Mondays and Fridays. I do have to go to a meeting on 4/2 for an hour since Goodwill will be closed on Easter Sunday (not a paid Sunday). But I do have my next zoo event on 4/8 at night. Since I work for 4 hours that day, I have plenty of time to rest before I leave for the zoo. It worked out perfectly. And hopefully, it'll be much warmer too. That's it on my end. I'll be back tonight with my belated Mid-March recipe list. See you then.