Goodwill Manasota to Open First Longboat Key Location by Year’s End
LONGBOAT KEY – Goodwill Manasota will soon open its first location on Longboat Key, bringing a bookstore and donation drop-off center to the island by mid-December.
The new site, located at 3150 Gulf of Mexico Drive in the Brista Commons shopping center, marks a milestone for Goodwill Manasota President and CEO Donn Githens, who has aimed to establish a presence on the Key for over a decade.
The 3,442-square-foot space will be divided into two sections — a rear area for donation drop-offs and a street-facing bookstore open to the public. The store will be stocked with a rotating selection of books refreshed several times a week.
The bookstore and donation center will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will employ seven to eight team members. Githens emphasized that employees will earn above minimum wage and have access to Goodwill’s workforce development programs, including educational assistance.
“Our mission is changing lives through the power of work,” Githens said, noting that Goodwill Manasota helps individuals with disabilities and other employment barriers through training, job opportunities, and educational support.
The Longboat Key location will be Goodwill Manasota’s fourth bookstore, joining those in Venice, Sarasota, and Bradenton. The organization’s decision to open a bookstore rather than a full retail store stems from the limited commercial space available on the island.
“Retail space is very limited on Longboat Key,” Githens explained. “When we had the opportunity to secure this space for a donation center and bookstore, we took it.”
Goodwill Manasota also plans to collaborate with other local nonprofits on the island. “We have a long history of partnering with other organizations in our community,” Githens said. “Our model of collecting, producing, and selling donated goods helps fund mission programs that also support other nonprofits.”
With the new location, Longboat Key residents will have a convenient way to donate gently used items and support Goodwill’s regional programs that strengthen the community through employment and education.
