Donation drive to connect vets with green jobs

Denver’s Go Green Warehouse is asking for donations of building materials, hardware and household appliances, the sale of which go to support Veterans Green Jobs. VGJ is a nonprofit organization that links veterans with training and employment that serve both the community and the environment.

Go Green Warehouse was launched in May of 2011, said Linda Lidov, communications consultant at VGJ. It sells new and used home improvement materials ranging from sinks, appliances and doors to tools, paint and building supplies at price cuts up to 75 percent off retail.

The inventory at the 60,000 square foot warehouse changes often, as throughout the week, homeowners, contractors and corporate donors drop off overstock hardware or leftover materials from job sites.

“We like to tell customers they’ll never know what they’ll find on our shelves when they come in,” Lidov said.

GGW is currently running a donation drive until Veterans Day, Nov. 11. “We’re on a big push right now to get donations,” said Lidov, “because we do rely on those to fill up the shelves, and we want to keep customers coming back for more, so we have a constant supply of inventory.”

And those donations not only benefit unemployed veterans and their families, but the drive works to protect the environment, as well. “A lot of leftover building materials end up in the dumpsters.  We’re trying to keep that stuff out of the dumpsters,” added Lidov, “to sell it for the benefit of veterans.”

Veterans Green Jobs was founded in 2008 to help combat the rising unemployment rate of those who have served our country and are returning to civilian life and a capricious job market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in June that of the two million veterans who have served since Sept. 11, 2001, 12.7 percent were unemployed in May of 2012. And  veterans between the ages of 18 and 24 are at a higher unemployment rate of 23.5 percent. That national average in September was 7.8 percent.

There are almost half a million veterans living in Colorado, 49,000 of whom sought employment assistance in 2011 through the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

“The veteran population faces an extremely high unemployment rate compared to other populations,” Lidov said. “We’re trying to help them improve their employment situation by connecting them directly with employers in the green sector. Employers who are focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural resource conservation and wild land firefighting.”

Veterans Green Jobs also directly hires prior military members to provide a wide range of green services to Colorado residents, such as the installation of household solar panels, residential heating and air conditioning services, and home energy efficiency weatherization for low-income households.  These services offer competitive prices and aim to lessen the burden of utility bills while lowering energy consumption to benefit the environment.

In addition, VGJ staffs GGW through a transition-employment program.  Ben Moya, assistant warehouse manager, is an Army veteran who was homeless for over a decade before discovering VGJ through Denver’s Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program.

When he’s not supervising the loading dock, Moya happily mingles with shoppers, taking on the secondary role of salesman.  “Customers know me now, and they ask for me,” Moya stated on the GGW website.  “I put my best foot forward to help them find what they need.  And they like my conversation –I have the gift of gab.”

Moya and the staff of GGW are always looking for volunteers to help customers, sort and stock donations, or run the cash register.  Individuals or groups may sign up on the website.

Donations can be dropped off at GGW during shopping hours: Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For those who don’t have transportation, building materials and supplies can be picked up by GGW’s own truck.  Simply schedule an appointment through the website or by calling (720) 236-1340.

Items needed the most are appliances, double-pane windows, and high dollar one-of-a-kind items. GGW is located at 2627 West 6th Ave. in Denver. All donations are tax deductible.

Visit GGW’s website for more information.