Rochester Goodwill Packages Cleaning Supplies for U.S. Aircraft Carrier
On March 5, the USS Nimitz was on its way to the Middle East, armed with 99,000 packages of cleaning supplies assembled by the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired-Goodwill Industries of Greater Rochester (NY), which supplies eight of 10 active U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups and all of the submarines with cleaning solutions.
ABVI-Goodwill has more than 200 employees who have visual impairments but earn competitive wages and benefits working on a number of different contracts, including this packaging project.
The cleaning products, A33 and Surepak, are packaged in water-soluble square-inch packages, much like dishwasher detergent tablets. That way, one container the size of a large cottage cheese tub holds enough cleaner for 180 restrooms, said Tim Gleason, Director of Marketing and Communications for ABVI-Goodwill.
The cleaning-solution business earns about $500,000 a year for ABVI-Goodwill, with the USS Nimitz being the largest order to date, said Joyel Bennett, ABVI-Goodwill Manufacturing Director. The Goodwill's manufacturing unit earns more than $8 million each year and employs 80 to 100 people.
Source: Working! Spring 2003
