Donations Associate - Full Time

Community Aid Inc; Harrisburg (Dauphin County); On-site; USD 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

CommunityAid is hiring a Donations Associate to greet donors, sort donations, and maintain a clean donation area at our Harrisburg location. Levels 1–3 come with different responsibilities and pay scales, with bonus raises after 90 days.

Starting pay ranges from $15.25 to $19.00 per hour, with opportunities to move up as you gain experience and training in pallet jacks and other equipment where applicable.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English.
• Minimum age 16 for Level 1; minimum age 18 for Levels 2 & 3.

Responsibilities

• Greet donors in a friendly and professional manner.
• Sort and track donations by department and quality.
• Maintain clean, safe donation areas and follow safety standards.
• Assist with pricing, production support, and general donation tasks.
• Participate in daily huddles and communicate donation volume to supervision.

Skills

Customer service

English proficiency

Safety awareness

Education

High School diploma

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Harrisburg, PA 17111

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: High School

Salary Range: $15.25 - $19.00 Hourly

Travel Percentage: None

Job Shift: Any

Job Category: Warehouse

Starting Pay

• Donations Associate – Level 1: $15.25/hour*


• Donations Associate – Level 2: $16.75/hour*


• Donations Associate – Level 3: $18.00/hour*

*ALL LEVELS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A $0.50 INCREASE AFTER 90 DAYS OF EMPLOYMENT.

Purpose of the Role

The Donation Associate is responsible for demonstrating great customer service, receiving incoming donations, and sorting donations by identifying quality goods versus trash or unsellable goods. Successful Donations Associates operate quickly and efficiently in demanding and fast‑paced environments. Donation Associates are required to maintain a clean and organized donation area, follow all safety standards, and properly track the movement of donated goods. Performing all donation tasks consistently helps set up all other aspects of the business for success.

Donation Associate – Level 1 is required to use manual machinery such as manual pallet jacks, dollies, and hand trucks. Level 1 does not operate any electronic or heavy machinery such as balers, compactors, or forklifts/electric pallet jacks.

Donation Associate – Level 2 is required to learn and use all manual machinery such as manual pallet jacks, dollies, and hand trucks, and be certified in some heavy machinery such as balers and compactors.

Donation Associate – Level 3 is required to learn and use all manual machinery such as manual pallet jacks, dollies, and hand trucks and be certified in all heavy machinery such as balers, compactors, electric pallet jacks, walking stackers and forklifts.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Service

• Greet all donors in a friendly and professional manner.


• Provide a positive donation experience even during busy times.


• Follow donation guidelines. Review donated goods for poor quality, damage, and/or restrictions and have the ability to turn away and explain why we cannot accept certain items in a way that is consistent with CommunityAid’s core behaviors.


• Patiently and courteously answer basic donation questions while keeping donation flow moving.


• Perform basic partner donation tracking on an electronic tablet.

Organizing and Tracking Donations

• Quickly and accurately sort incoming donations by department.


• Identify items for trash or unsellable before they are sent to production or back stock.


• Prevent any bottlenecks or congestion at the donation door. Keep incoming donation carts, bins, or large items organized for safety.


• Keep and maintain a clean environment by managing trash appropriately and organizing or breaking down cardboard.


• Accurately track product that is moving from donation door to production, sorting stations, or backstock with an electronic tablet.

Production

• Assist with production needs such as disinfection and pricing of furniture, assisting with clothing production dumping, as well as ability to learn other production areas for sorting.

Safety

• Emphasize safety and organization in high demand environments.


• Required to learn and use proper safety equipment during everyday tasks (puncture resistance gloves and safety blades).


• Ability to use manual pallet jacks, hand trucks, and dollies.


• For the purpose of safety and awareness, learn and understand the basic safety requirements for heavy machines located at the donation door and warehouse. This includes forklifts, baler, electric pallet jacks, walking stackers, and compactors. (These machines require further training and certification before an employee is authorized to use them and are not a requirement of the Donation Door Associate – Level 1 job.)


• Learn and understand all safety requirements for disinfection (Sterifab) and PPE requirements.

Other Tasks

• Participate in daily huddles and shift handoffs.


• Maintain a working knowledge of CommunityAid sales and marketing efforts, including current store needs.


• Communicate donation volume and issues to the Donations Supervisor.


• Perform additional responsibilities as needed to support departmental and store goals.

Core Competencies

• Embrace, exemplify, and endorse CommunityAid’s 12 Core Behaviors.


• Embrace and support CommunityAid’s Mission.


• Good verbal communication abilities with an emphasis on clarity and listening.


• Critical thinking and problem solving.


• Ability to follow standardized work processes and quality guidelines.


• Strong attention to detail when reviewing, sorting, and pricing product.


• Ability to lift, move, and process merchandise of varying weights.


• Reliability, consistency, and the ability to work independently or with minimal supervision.


• Ability to multi-task and thrive in a fast‑paced environment.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent preferred.


• Minimum age 16 years of age required for Level 1; Minimum age 18 years of age required for Levels 2 & 3.


• Scheduling flexibility and evenings and weekend availability.


• Proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English.


• Able to adhere to consistent attendance and weekly working hours expectations.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.


• Ability to push and pull up to 75 pounds.


• Ability to stand for extended periods of time.


• Ability to work extended periods of time wearing mask or respirator and other PPE.