Fake donation bins found at Goodwill

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WHDH) -- In Florida, some Goodwill donation bins were discovered to be fake and not actually for charity.

For the England’s, stopping at this Goodwill store is secondhand nature.

When they're not buying, they're donating used goods and always steering clear of these big bins.

Within eyeshot of this Fort Myers' Goodwill sits this big blue and white donation box packed with someone's charitable acts. The problem is these donations aren't headed to goodwill. Instead, they're going to a commercial recycling center.

"Yeah, it's like a smack in the face... like, 'hey, we're in town taking your donations,' you know?” said Roberto Vazquez, assistant manager.

The store's assistant manager explains the so-called donation bin appeared overnight almost right on goodwill's door steps.

"At best, it's kind of an insult. At worst, it's deceptive... and malicious,” said Kirsten O’Donnell, Goodwill spokesperson.

Kirsten O'Donnell with Goodwill calls this particular box just the latest to suddenly pop up in Southwest Florida. She fears people may mistake the blue and white lettering as Foodwill's brand.

"It's clear that people are using them, and I'm not sure that people realize that they're not going to charity,” said O’Donnell.

The charity must now fight to make sure your good deeds end up with them.

As for the more than 50 other bold bins littering the county's landscape, Goodwill and other non-profits plan to put their faith in supporters like the England's, hopeful they'll take a good, hard second look.

O'Donnell says the best way to make sure your donations actually end up at Goodwill is to donate in person and avoid using boxes all together.