The local division of Goodwill Industries released a statement Monday following the news of several closures in the Toronto area.
Goodwill Industries - Ontario Great Lakes, which is based in London, says they remain “financially very strong and on a path of growth and prosperity.”
All 20 donation centres across the region are accepting donations and remain in service.
Goodwill Industries of Toronto, Eastern, Central and Northern Ontario has closed 16 stores and 10 donation centres due to a “cash flow crisis,” the organization announced Sunday.
The release states that the Toronto Goodwill has been struggling financially for the last few years. All Goodwill organizations are separately incorporated and governed by their own board of directors.
There are seven regional Goodwills in Canada
The sweeping closures affect more than 430 Goodwill employees and other stakeholders in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Newmarket, Barrie, Orillia and Brockville.
The closures went into effect Sunday. Two offices have also been shuttered.
In a statement issued Sunday afternoon, Goodwill Industries CEO Keiko Nakamura called the closures “a fluid situation” and says the company will explore “a variety of options to continue its decades-long mission.”
The union representing 450 Goodwill employees says workers in Ontario were locked out of their jobs on Sunday without warning.
With files from the Canadian Press and CP24
