Donald Driver Surprises Goodwill Donors

The former number 80 in green and gold is at it again.

Thursday afternoon, Donald Driver showed up unexpectedly in Wauwatosa, bringing smiles to some deserving faces.

Some of them could find the words to speak.

"Donald Driver," said one man.

Others, maybe the wind took their breath away.

"How you doing, are you good?" Driver asked one woman.

"I'm, I'm, yeah," she said.

That's what can happen when a Packers great catches you off guard.

Driver surprised donors at the Goodwill, suiting up as a donation attendant. He unloaded cars with bags full of clothes, furniture and office supplies, carrying them inside the store to be sorted and later sold.

"We make new years resolutions to lose weight and clean closets so do that. Do it now," he said. "So these families that can't afford to go to amazing stores and shop, give them an opportunity to come to Goodwill and shop at an amazing place."

It's a place where shopping can change someone's life. When the community's donations are sold at the Goodwill, that money is used for training to help people find jobs. More than 72-thousand disabled and disadvantaged men and women benefited last year.

"They need a purpose, want to feel valued and respected," said Pat Boelter, Goodwill's Chief Marketing Officer. "So, to help people achieve a job or move up a career ladder, that means the world to them."

"Goodwill gave me an opportunity over a decade ago when I was just a guy trying to make the Green Bay Packers roster," Driver said. "They gave me a path and a way to be successful."

"I mentioned to Mr. Driver that I have a disable child, so she might benefit one of these days in terms of employment," said donor Gina Rehkemper.

That's why Driver encourages the community to give and thanks those who generously do.

Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago is the largest Goodwill in the country. The organization and Driver have teamed up now for 14 years.