Senator LaHood Visits NAEIR

State Senator Darin LaHood, representing Illinois’ 37th District traveled to Galesburg, IL on Friday morning to visit NAEIR.

From left - State Senator Darin LaHood
[IL-37] & NAEIR President &
CEO Gary C. Smith

 The Senator had never previously visited our facility; nor was he aware of the nature of our work with nonprofits, schools and churches, our relationship with thousands of donor companies or the national scope of our outreach. NAEIR's President and CEO, Gary C. Smith, saw the occasion of the Senator's visit as an opportunity to provide him with a thorough briefing on our organization.

 Senator LaHood departed later that morning with an appreciation for the important role that NAEIR assumes in providing much needed products to charitable organizations throughout the country and the state of Illinois in particular. Founded in 1977 and now celebrating our 35th Anniversary, NAEIR continues to successfully solicit donations of a wide variety of excess inventory from America's corporations; distributing these materials to 13,000 nonprofits, schools and churches throughout the U.S.

Left to right - Senator LaHood greeting NAEIR
employees Patti Woolsey & Mary
Sue Austin

 Catalog members average $20,000 worth of free material over a year’s membership and pay a nominal annual membership fee for the service. Products include office supplies and equipment, toys, sporting goods, educational supplies, clothing, consumer electronics, personal care products and a host of other types of goods.

Donors, many of whom are Regular C corporations, realize an up to twice-cost federal tax deduction on donations of excess, slow-moving inventory that might otherwise be sold to liquidators at a nickel on the dollar or wind up in a landfill – of no use to anyone.

The Senator and Mr. Smith discussed a number of issues including the needs of charitable organizations as well as schools and churches throughout Illinois. With the Senator’s involvement in the state’s Human Services Committee, he has a passion for the needs of children and families along with broad social service concerns on the state level.

From left - Gary C. Smith
and Senator LaHood

Mr. Smith noted that families are well represented across NAEIR's membership base.  He expressed the desire to expand the number of organizations we currently provide donated product to, in order to help more families across the state.

If you're a business and would like to donate to NAEIR, or if you're a nonprofit, school or church and would like to learn more about the benefits of joining, please give us a call at (800)-562-0955.