I used to work for Value Village. NWC is paid by the pound for cloth plus they get paid for the donations. They are contracted so they come to an agreement. As for the people they help. We were lucky I suppose. We had a team of 5-6 great clients of theirs we called team members (same as everyone else) and they had a fantastic coach. At our store everyone was treated equally and fair. We had a great time. Yes, Value Village is for profit. As is Goodwill, they just put more money forth for programs. Straight nonprofits, donate to St. Vincent de Paul. Minus the cost of running the stores every last penny is put towards soup kitchens, shelters, food banks, etc. It all goes back into the communities and people in need. EVERYTHING! Except for the cost of running things it's all put back into programs to help. I've worked for both places. And St. Vincent was incredible for helping those in need. Down side is they don't have training programs for the Disabled. Though they should. Donations: they will not take your trashed items. It must be resellable. That's how they find most of the programs. So please be understanding. However, if you are treated rude or unfairly contact dispatch or that county's conference. Not the church, the conference headquarters and speak to the district manager. read more

A previous review stated that pick-ups are hit or miss, which has been my experience. A few tips: 1 - Make sure you read through what they will and will not take! We've been through this before, and they are very strict about certain items. 2 - Have your stuff set out the night before. Sometimes the truck comes first thing in the morning, and if your stuff isn't out there, they will just drive by. 3 - The drivers will not write out an itemized receipt, but they will leave one for you to fill out. The convenience of having them come to us is worth it for our busy lives. read more

This is a general review of NW Center. They suck. I found a job with NW center through Terra Staffing Agency for a " Front Desk Receptionist" for upscale tech client. Gross, it was Amazon. Apparently NW Center has a partnership with NW center. NW Center finds employees and Amazon pays them ( for NW's " non profit" status). It's weird. So basically I had to go through 3 processes. Employment agency, NW Center, and eventually some Amazon Bullshit. The training was minimal, but also a monkey could do the job. I went to Terra staffing to finish all my paperwork, watch a minute long video, and have a stack of papers thrown at me, while the recruiter says " just sign it, its fine". Dumb me... did. I felt very rushed in this process. I finally go through training, and was put in the Amazon Brazil building ( fashion and textiles). Each employee has a messaging system to ask various Amazon employees questions. I found a buddy of mine, asked him a few questions, and to tell him I got the job. A day later I get a call from my staffing agency. They said I breached my contract. It was a security issue that I had told my friend, through a company messaging service what my buildings purpose was ( fashion and textiles). Now here's the deal. Around Amazon offices, you hear people talking about important, secret information ALL THE TIME! on busses to work, Amazon employees themselves literally having a full on conference that everyone can hear, on their phones. Not only that...but any visiting person going to a building must sign a non- disclosure form. Yet Employees would bring their family members to their offices, and talk about all kinds of important things. I got fired two days later after being fully trained. The communication between NW Center, Staffing Agencies and Amazon was dismal. I sent a letter to Amazon, about how the standards were different, and that NW Center was treating their " Amazon" employees terribly. I found out Amazon didn't even address the letter. They sent it to NW Center, and NW Center sent it to my employment agency. Because they didn't want to deal with it. Yet in training we were told we must abide by Amazons standards, and " be" an Amazon employee. NW center didn't have my back at all. They didn't ask questions. Or try to diffuse the situation. They left me in the cold, and basically said " so what". The whole thing was fucked, and now I make way more money. It's the principle dudes. read more

I had used this pick-up service for at least ten years. Then I found out that everything goes to Value Village for resale. NWCB only gets10% of the resale from Value Village. The volunteers from the Northwest Center are obviously good people, but I always thought I was giving to help the blind, etc.If you want to help the blind, donate money directly to the organization. Also, the owners of Value Village have made a fortune under the implied pretense that they are a non profit-which they are not. Can you say $10 million dollar home spread on Mercer Island? No kidding. Give your donations to Goodwill, Salvation Army or Saint Vincent DePaul. Always verify who is actually getting the lion's share of your donation. There are organizations that raise funds with donations, but then deposit things they cannot hold to value Village, like consignment shops. Check it out. read more

I've donated here three times, and never had a problem. Sometimes I go crazy and purge clothes and other things in my closet, and I've appreciated their pickup service so much because I'm lazy and I don't like driving to donation sites. You just go on their website, schedule a pickup, put the items outside of your door, and that's it. I never had an issue with them not coming during the scheduled time window. Also, I've thrown lots of random things on my pile (books, framed art, etc), and they take them all. read more

Northwest Center is supposed to be making a difference for people with disability's, so with me having Cerebral Palsy I have contacted NWC for work, I was hired and worked for them for 4 + years. NWC in the public eye is nice and their car lot cheesy smile. Behind closed doors or nobody looking they verbally attack their employee's over and over make them feel like a POS and when you try to stand up for yourself all they say is "We pay you well, if you don't like it there's the door, so get back to work". You try and go to HR like anybody would and again with the cheesy car lot smile they hear the side of the Managers and don't even take the time to hear out their employee's. The purpose of this review is to worn people who think NWC is out there to make a difference for people who have disability's instead the have crooked higher up people who think its their job to pick on employee's, like I said before make us feel like a POS. I really feel embarrassed for the people who work there and think it's ok to bully their employees, absolutely embarrassing and unprofessional. I'm hoping this helps people with a clear decision to stop any business with NWC. It's time to clean house. read more

I'm going through the moving process and NWC has been a lifesaver. I've got a bunch of stuff that I can be used by other people and I obviously don't need anymore. PLUS, they pick-up. It's one less thing to carry, one less trip to the car, one less major annoyance when your life is already in upheaval. I WAS a bit annoyed that they refused a few things that were totally on their acceptable list - but worse things have happened and those items just made it to the dumpster. The pick up service is fabulous and it's great knowing that your items go to a great cause. read more

In an effort to purge old clothing I no longer wear, but recognizing my limitations to drop it off somewhere because I don't drive, Northwest Center was a great find, as they pick up clothes! I went to their website and filled out their form that had the following language at the top: "A Northwest Center customer service representative will be in touch with you within the next business day to schedule your donation pick-up." I filled out the form on a Friday, assuming someone would call me on Monday. I received no call (or e-mail, for that matter). On Tuesday, I happened to be working from home. I received a phone call. It was the pick-up driver from NWC. He was outside of my apartment. He came upstairs and I said to him, "I'm glad that I was home. I thought I was supposed to receive a call." His reply was that NWC never calls. Hmm. In any case, I gave him the clothes but I hope that my experience is the exception, rather than the rule (for the organization's sake as well as the donors). read more

I have been donating for a couple years now to this company. I called and asked if I could leave out a small wine cooler and small TV stand which could only hold a small TV and me 7 year old could carry it. They said absolutely fine. So I left them out with the clothes donation. Showed up but only took the bags. I called to reschedule a pick up 3 months ago and still waiting for a pick up. Called 3 times to remind a pick up. Besides this 90% of the time they are completely rude. There are other places that appreciate donations, gonna go through someone else now. read more

Don't us ethem often but the few times I have used them have been just fine. Note where the stuff will be left. Have it out prior to pick up time. Clearly mark the product. Come home to everything gone. Convenient for us and haven't had any issues with pick ups. read more

Pick ups are hit-or-miss. Lazy truck drivers who don't feel like doing their job will mark you as "Not Ready", despite having followed the directions for donation pick-up. One driver wouldn't carry a 5 pound shelf because "Large items need to be near the curb". Don't waste your time! Donate to Goodwill or the Salvation Army instead. NWC and their "Big Blue Truck of Maybe/Maybe Not" is a complete waste of space. read more

Don't bother using this service! They are rude, unprofessional, lazy and totally disregard what you request. I used the online service and asked for an extra-large pick-up as I had some small furniture, bags, toys and sporting equipment to donate. The truck came and left without picking anything up. They claimed that I had too many large items that wouldn't fit on the truck. That's fine, if true, but they picked nothing up, including small items. Total waste of time!! read more

I have made multiple donations to this company for years. This past year, when they have picked up donation having been going through the bags grabbing just what the wanted and just thrown everything else all over my porch. I have called and asked about donating certain small furniture sent pictures they excepted, said the would take it. Never showed up for it or just left it that day. Ok if you dont want the item just say it and dont throw item all over my porch and not put things back. Very rude, have officially lost my donations and I have donated alot to this company. I will find a company that appreciates donations. read more

Worst group of people I've had the misfortune of dealing with. I talked with the staff about a pick up by the "big blue truck" and was told both times that they would pick up boxes and furniture under 50lbs and able to be lifted by one person. I put out all the items by myself and I'm 60 years old, although my 4 year old grandson helped move some of the chairs outside. To my surprise when I got home I found they had picked the boxes, but no furniture, yes the same chairs my 4 year old grandson was able to lift were to much for the big blue truck driver. They lied, they are dishonest, use a different charity there are many. I believe these guys just pick and choose the best stuff for their own profit. read more

After several encounters that add up to poor service, I am writing this review. They have taken my rolling cart; when it was marked do not take. It took three days to pick up...they have left perfectly good things thinking they won't sell. And the last one, I walked 6 blocks in the morning, to be told they were full. I then saw them take the two bags after I left them at the side of the truck...I know there are reasons but they add up to a fly by the seat of the pants outfit. I like their $3 coupon but this is ridiculous. read more

You may not be aware that Northwest Center hires disabled adults to do assembly work for business customers. I am sorry to say that we were one of their customers. The workers are great, but the VP's of Manufacturing Production are totally nasty people and not very trustworthy. They screwed up our jobs, lost& damaged our inventory, and lied about their capabilities . Northwest Center very nearly ruined us with their incompetence. read more

I have so many clothes for eight year old twins and since they were babies, I have donated to this fabulous company. Remember, they train throws with all kinds of intellectual and other disabilities to work every day and how to live alone and manage money and control a lot of their lives. That is more than I can say about the many people I see every single as a socil worker. Brava and Bravo to all that volunteer and take the time to volunteer for a cause who save homes. I promise you will feel like you have one 10000.00 just from the high of helping those who really need it read more