Drive to Victory
Frequently Asked Questions
Save the Date
When the DTV season begins, find your school’s
competition dates at gesmv.org/DTV.
Collect & Prep
Gather gently used items to be resold in our Goodwill Stores.
Drive Up & Drop Off
- Your donations will be accepted at the Goodwill Drive to Victory donation trailer parked at your school campus from Monday-Thursday of your competition week.
- Goodwill donation attendents will be present to accept items from 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- Please be respectful of your school property and do not leave items at the trailer outside attendant hours. Items that are taken, damaged by the elements or affected by wildlife cannot be resold to support the Goodwill mission.
Tune in to Touchdown 7
The total weight of donations for each school will be announced weekly, every Friday night on WHIO during Touchdown 7! Be sure to tune in to see if your school came out on
top!
Prize Winnings
- The band with the highest weight in donations each week wins a $400 scholarship.
- The competing band will be awarded a $200 scholarship.
- At the end of 10 weeks, the band with the highest overall donation weight is crowned the season Drive to Victory Champion and receives an additional $1,000 scholarship.
Prize winnings are generously provided by our partners at Arby’s Corporation, and are paid out after the final week of competition.
2026 Drive to Victory Competition Schedule
| Week | Donations Accepted | School A | Total | School B | Total | Weekly Winner |
| 1 | Aug 17-20 | Beavercreek | - | Bellbrook | - | |
| 2 | Aug 24-27 | Xenia | - | Fairborn | - | |
| 3 | Aug 30-Sept 3 | Alter | - | Trotwood | - | |
| 4 | Sept 7-10 | BYE WEEK | - | BYE WEEK | - | |
| 5 | Sept 14-17 | Kenton Ridge | - | Tecumseh | - | |
| 6 | Sept 21-24 | Fairmont | - | Miamisburg | - | |
| 7 | Sept 28-Oct 1 | Greenon | - | Northeastern | - | |
| 8 | Oct 5-8 | West Carrollton | - | Belmont | - | |
| 9 | Oct 12-15 | Lebanon | - | Carlisle | - | |
| 10 | Oct 19-22 | Valley View | - | Waynesville | - |
Every Participating Band Wins a Cash Prize
- The band with the highest weight in donations each week wins a $400 scholarship.
- The competing band will be awarded a $200 scholarship.
- At the end of 10 weeks, the band with the highest overall donation weight is crowned the season Drive to Victory Champion and receives an additional $1,000 scholarship.
Prize winnings are generously provided by our partners at Arby’s Corporation, and are paid out after the final week of competition.
Your Donations Continue to Do Serious Good
Watch now to learn how donated items support 40+ local programs. During DTV, everybody wins!
This is our favorite question to answer! We're grateful for Goodwill Retail Store shoppers and donors, because they fund the mission of Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley (GESMV): to help individuals with disabilities and disadvantages achieve independence and a higher quality of life. Our vision is a community where everyone can belong, contribute, and thrive!
87¢ of every $1 we earn in sales through our retail stores, shopgoodwill.com listings, and Dayton Goodwill Auto Auction is reinvested into 40+ local programs that empower your neighbors!
These include job skills training for every ability and background, counseling services, adult day programs for seniors and individuals with disabilities, vision services, a free medical equipment loan program, and more! Explore our programs and find out why we're more than just a thrift store!
Vehicle donations receive a 1,000 lb. weight bonus for your school! The car does not have to run, and Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley (GESMV) will even pay for a tow! Call (937) 228-AUTO and mention making a donation for your school to get detailed instructions. Learn more at our Goodwill Auto Auction page.
Just like items sold in our retail stores, 87% of the purchase price of every vehicle is reinvested into our local programs and services. Thank you!
Amber Hargett
Public Relations Manager, Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley
a.hargett@gesmv.org
Registration for Drive to Victory opens every March. The first 18 schools to register are included in the next competition season which takes place from August to October, after students return to school in the fall.
Donation Items We Can and Cannot Accept
Acceptable items
- Clothing, shoes, and boots
- Jewelry
- Medical Equipment (no motorized or patient-specific equipment)
- Books, records, compact disks, video tapes, and DVDs
- Games, toys, and sports equipment
- Housewares: dishes, glassware, kitchen utensils, lamps, and small appliances
- Collectibles, antiques, knick-knacks, and other giftware
- Domestics: linens, curtains, blankets, etc.
- Electronics: stereos, radios, VCRs, DVD players, etc.
- Furniture: dressers, tables, sofas, bed frames (except waterbed frames), etc.
- Other large items
- Televisions – Flat Panel only (no tube televisions)
Unacceptable Items
- Televisions (tube type)
- Motorized Medical Equipment (scooters or wheelchairs)
- Patient-Specific Medical Equipment (CPAP machines, thermometers, etc.)
- Mattresses and box springs
- Large appliances
- Vehicle tires and batteries
- Paint and chemicals
- Building supplies
- Wet or soiled clothing
- Infant furniture and car seats
- Items containing gasoline or propane
Donation Value Guide
If you donate clothing, furniture, or household goods to Goodwill, the Internal Revenue Service may allow a deduction (if itemizing your taxes) based on fair market value.
When you drop off your donations at Goodwill, you’ll receive a receipt from a donation attendant. Hang on to this receipt (Goodwill Stores and Donation Centers do not retain a copy of this receipt). At the end of the year, you may be eligible for a tax deduction on clothing and household items that are in good condition.
For any advice regarding your donation in the preparation of your taxes, please consult with your Tax Advisor.