Metro & MERS/Goodwill Celebrate
Online, October 28, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Metro and MERS/Goodwill, two of the Bi-State region's largest organizations, celebrate a 12-year working relationship and announce the first "Donate & Ride" Coat Donation Drive to take place Nov. 1-30, 2010, at four of the MetroLink Park-Ride locations (Brentwood I-64, Fairview Heights, North Hanley and Shrewsbury). Through the "Donate & Ride" Coat Donation Drive, Metro and MERS/Goodwill aim to collect 4,000 coats in four weeks.
"Metro and MERS/Goodwill both are dedicated to supporting the community and encouraging a healthy economy in the bi-state region," said John Nations, the new President and CEO of Metro. "MERS/Goodwill helps create the job opportunities and we make transportation to and from work possible for 150,000 people each day. This commitment and long-standing relationship with MERS/Goodwill exemplifies our dedication to providing the necessary tools that many people need to create and secure job opportunities and contribute to regional economic growth."
To participate in the Metro and MERS/Goodwill "Donate & Ride" Coat Donation Drive, visit the Brentwood I-64, Fairview Heights, North Hanley or Shrewsbury MetroLink Park-Ride locations. MERS/Goodwill donation bins will be conveniently located between parking lots and MetroLink platforms so that gently used coats and other apparel can easily be donated on the way to work, home, events, etc.
"We are excited to further strengthen our relationship with Metro," said Dr. Lewis Chartock, President and CEO of MERS/Goodwill. "Twelve years ago we began contracting employees to clean Metro's Brentwood facility. Today, Metro is one of our largest contract employers, providing more than 100 full-time and part-time jobs. The majority of these contract employees have completed one or more of our job-training programs, which in turn are funded by our 40 retail locations that collect donated goods to support the community."
Donate & Ride Coat Drive
Metro currently holds 11 contracts in Missouri and Illinois with MERS/Goodwill, which provides employees to clean and maintain buses, trains, paratransit vans, MetroLink platforms, Metro shops and yards, facilities, offices, and the Metro headquarters.
About Metro
Metro is the operator of the Metro public transportation system for the St. Louis region, which includes the 87 vehicle, 46-mile MetroLink light rail system; 346 MetroBus vehicle fleet that operates on 69 MetroBus routes; and Metro Call-A-Ride, a paratransit
fleet of 120 vans.
Metro also oversees the operations of the St. Louis Downtown Airport and surrounding industrial business park, the Gateway Arch Revenue Collections Center, the Gateway Arch Transportation System, the Gateway Arch Riverboats, and the Gateway Arch Parking Facility.
About MERS/Goodwill
MERS/Goodwill is a non-profit agency that provides for the vocational needs of individuals who have barriers to employment through disability or economic disadvantage. Annually serving more than 13,000 people, the organization operates 38 service centers in 53 counties in the bi-state area. Revenues from 40 Goodwill stores and the auto donation program assist with funding MERS/Goodwill job training and employment services. MERS/Goodwill is a proud member of the United Way. For more information about MERS/Goodwill or to find a Goodwill donation center near you, call 314-241-3464 or visit www.mersgoodwill.org.
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