Drop off some old clothing, furniture or appliances at the big GreenDrop trailer at Mānoa Marketplace, and you might think you’re donating to the American Red Cross. After all, it’s right there on the trailer: the charity’s trademark logo along with a statement: “Your donations (thank you) benefit our nonprofit partner.”
In truth, the donation mainly supports Savers Value Village Inc., a for-profit international retailer that posted $1.7 billion in net sales in 2025. Savers’ chief executive raked in $5.1 million in compensation in 2024, down from $10.1 million the year before. Meanwhile, Savers gave the Red Cross charities only pennies per pound of items donated in Mānoa.
Now Hawaiʻi lawmakers are stepping in. A bill moving forward in the Legislature would require companies like Savers to disclose on their collection bins that they’re actually going to resell donations at their retail stores and pay the charity only a small amount based on the weight of the donation. They’ll also have to disclose that the donations aren’t tax deductible.
Leaders of Hawaiʻi charities who say their thrift stores are being muscled out by the for-profit giant are applauding the move. One supporter cited previous reporting by Civil Beat, which exposed the issue…