Thrift stores were busy Wednesday as droves of people dropped off items on the last day such donations could qualify as charitable deductions on 2008 income tax returns.
"People are trying to create their own economic stimulus package," said Wayne Thornley, the vice president of marketing and communications for Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA. He said donations for December are down about 90 percent this year, so the last-minute turnout is good news.
More than 900 people made donations on the last day of 2007, but Goodwill expected only 750 people on Wednesday, Mr. Thornley said.
Salvation Army employees reported receiving more items of greater value at the close of this year.
"Today we got five cars, a boat and a motorcycle," said Rebecca Wallace, the development director for the Salvation Army's Augusta office. She said 23 cars had been donated in the past seven days, slightly more than in the same period of 2007. The office stayed open 90 minutes later Wednesday to accept last-minute vehicle donations.
Dietra Robinson, a clerk at the Salvation Army Thrift Store on Knox Avenue in North Augusta, said the store received twice as many donations as it would on a typical day, with more furniture being dropped off than usual.
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