AAA South Jersey stepping in to host donation drive for Goodwill Store impacted by fire

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) -- People in South Jersey are coming together to collect items for a Goodwill Store in Egg Harbor Township that lost its entire inventory during a mid-January fire.

AAA South Jersey hosted a donation drive Friday afternoon where AAA employees and members dropped off clothes, electronics and toys that will be delivered to the Goodwill Store.

"It's the right thing to do," Matt Bowker of AAA South Jersey said. "This is kind of also assistance to our community, giving back."

Carolyn Demo-Janowiak came by on her lunch break to donate items.

"I always like to give back as best as I can," Demo-Janowiak said. "Life is short, and we have a lot of things that other people could probably use."

Michael Shaw of Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia said investigators told them they believe someone started the fire.

"It's really been overwhelming the amount of support," Shaw said. "The community has really come together to support us, and we can't tell you how much we appreciate that. It has really been an incredibly pleasant surprise." 

People can also donate items directly to Goodwill at its store in Egg Harbor Township, which is located at 6701 Black Horse Pike, or at any of its other locations in Southern/Central New Jersey and Philadelphia. 

Goodwill hopes to reopen the Egg Harbor Township store in four to five weeks.

In:
• New Jersey
• AAA
• Donations
• Fire
• South Jersey