February 18th 2025.
A recent incident at a Goodwill store in Maine caused quite a stir when a donation box was found to contain several hand grenades. The discovery resulted in the evacuation of the store and the involvement of law enforcement officials.
According to reports from The New York Post, the box was left outside the Goodwill store in Augusta and was found to contain military-grade explosives when employees arrived for work on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Thankfully, the grenades were not active at the time of their discovery, but the potential danger still prompted a swift response from the Maine State Police Bomb Squad.
As a precautionary measure, the store was immediately evacuated and closed while the bomb squad assessed the situation. Goodwill Northern New England, which operates the store, took to their Facebook page to inform customers of the temporary closure.
"Our Augusta, ME store is temporarily closed. A hand grenade was donated, and we have evacuated the building as we wait for the bomb squad to assess the situation," read the post.
The organization also urged people not to donate weapons of any kind, stating that even if they are antique and safe, their employees are not trained to handle such items and the necessary precautions must be taken.
"We ask that people do not donate weaponry. Even if they know it is antique and safe, our store employees do not, and we need to take the necessary precautions we have today," said Morgan Sewall, a spokesperson for Goodwill Northern New England.
After the bomb squad gave the all-clear, the store was able to reopen and resume operations. Goodwill Northern New England expressed their gratitude for the patience and understanding of their customers in a follow-up post.
"Our Augusta, ME store has been given the all-clear and is open again. Thank you for your patience and understanding!" they wrote.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being mindful of what is donated to thrift stores. While it is not uncommon for people to donate weapons, Goodwill Northern New England does not accept them and urges individuals to refer to their website for a list of acceptable donations.
Fortunately, in this case, it seems that there was no ill intent from the donor, and the situation was handled swiftly and safely. However, it serves as a cautionary tale for both donors and thrift stores alike. Let's all do our part to ensure the safety of those who work and shop at these establishments.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
