Ever wonder what happens to the rarest treasures that get donated to Goodwill?

Cassette tapes, point-and-shoot digital cameras and Guitar Hero guitars – what's old is cool again! In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami & Jake talk with David Hantla, E-commerce Manager at Goodwill of the Great Plains, to hear how this specialized team brings the most unique, rare and collectible donations to you, all while maximizing Goodwill's mission!

In this episode, we'll learn:

• The Treasure Hunt: How the team finds hidden gems, from 16th-century Bible pages and 1850s shipwreck gold to a "double-sided" painting verified by a famous artist's estate.
• The Science of Shopping: Goodwill uses high-tech tools, including X-ray fluorescence (XRF) machines, to analyze the elemental composition of jewelry and precious metals.
• Mission-Driven Tech: How the e-commerce department provides vital job training for persons-served, teaching professional skills in digital inventory, book scanning and product authentication.
• Live from Goodwill: Learn about our newest auction offerings on Whatnot, featuring purses from Coach, Dooney & Bourke, Michael Kors, Kate Spade!

Ready to find your next treasure? Explore Goodwill's online offerings:

• ShopGoodwill: Visit shopgoodwill.com to browse auctions for antiques, jewelry and collectibles.
• Whatnot: Search for Goodwill of the Great Plains to join our weekly live-streamed purse auctions.
• Books: Find our media selection on Amazon, eBay and goodwillbooks.com.

To find out more about Goodwill of the Great Plains and the job training and placement services offered, please visit goodwillgreatplains.org.

The Sustainable Steps podcast is made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Gilchrist Foundation.