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READ MORE: Shoppers outraged by Goodwill rug priced at $6,000
An unexpected donation made to a Goodwill store in Maryland ended up selling for $40,000 at an auction.
Goodwill accepts contributions from individuals in the community.
distributes them through over 3,300 stores nationwide
, utilizing the earnings for charitable causes.
While many
donate unwanted clothes or books after a clear-out
, the occasional rare gem crosses Goodwill’s path.
Recently a rare French painting was spotted while staff were sorting through donations at a location in rural Maryland.
‘Lisa Rusyniak, CEO of Goodwill’s Baltimore branch, stated that the seller genuinely wasn’t aware of its true value.’
told The Sun
.
A staff member informed their supervisor, Terri Tonelli, that the painting might be valued at more than what was being priced for display on the sales floor.
Tonelli found out that the artwork was created by the French Impressionist Edouard Leon Cortes.
The artwork, titled Marche au fleurs, depicted a bustling Parisian street scene.
‘I had goosebumps by that point,’ Tonelli reportedly said to local media earlier.
The artwork was dispatched to a Goodwill location in Baltimore so that nearby art specialists could examine it.
After they had confirmed its veracity it was sent on to Sotheby’s auction house in New York to be cleaned and appraised.
The auction house then sold it on for a staggering $40,600.
Goodwill utilized the profits to establish the Excel Center in Baltimore.
The Excel Center provides free high school education for individuals over 21 years old, giving them the opportunity to obtain a Maryland Department of Education diploma.
Rusyniak explained that
approximately 80,000 individuals have not finished their high school education in Baltimore
And Goodwill is stepping up to bridge these gaps.
“We’re seeing significant intergenerational poverty in Baltimore, and our efforts at this high school are starting to make an impact,” she stated.
We launched it two years ago and now we’re oversubscribed; we’ve got waitlists upon waitlists.
One of our students has brought her mother and grandmother along, which means we currently have three generations enrolled at the school. That’s wonderful.
Rusyniak informed The Sun that costs are increasing as
the outcome of Trump’s tariffs
could turn more consumers on to thrifting at Goodwill.
“I believe that more individuals who haven’t previously explored thrifting might join this trend,” she elaborated.
We make sure to stock high-quality products on our sales floor, and when prices go up, we notice an increase in customer numbers.
‘They not only back our mission, but also assist in keeping our clothing and home items from ending up in landfills.’
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