Knightdale —Crowds lined up two hours early and cheered as doors opened here at Goodwill Community Foundation’s newest store and donation center.

“People are very excited,” said Becky Lytle, a spokeswoman for Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina that covers a 50-county region including Wake.

“When we opened the doors, people were whooping they were so excited. I’ve never seen that kind of excitement when we opened a new store before.”

Eastern Wake residents by the hundreds poured into the store that gives back what it takes in by hiring and providing job training to people with disabilities. It also provides affordable clothes and goods that are donated by patrons who receive a tax write-off.

“We’re thrilled to be here,” said Linda McLain, vice president and CEO of GIENC. “It’s really nice to be able to provide good jobs to people with good benefits.”

The local store hired 10 people, said McLain.

The nonprofit company also provides computer training in literacy, computer and life skills, said Lytle.

A program called HOURS integrates the goals and objectives from the North Carolina Occupational Course of Study Program for students with disabilities.

Students in the Wake, Durham and Orange Counties Public School systems and Chapel-Hill Carrboro Public Schools spend part of their day at GIENC's headquarters in that on-line educational program, Lytle said.

The organization also reaches people elsewhere.

McLain said up to 700,000 people worldwide have trained through its free on-line computer and life-skills training program.

The life skills section has an interactive virtual town where students can learn how to use an ATM, how to shop at a grocery store and how to get a prescription filled.

“It takes away the fear factor,” said Lytle.

GIENC also has an international project to help HIV positive woman in an African village, McLain said.

The local Goodwill Community Foundation also supports a nature center where adults with disabilities participate in planting, nurturing and harvesting vegetables that are donated to the N.C. Food Bank. Participants also plant and take care of flowers in a state of the art greenhouse and Memorial Garden and create nature crafts.

The Knightdale donation center and store features 8,000 square feet of retail space with another 4,000 square feet of warehouse space. Merchandise includes used clothing, household items and furniture.

It is GIENC's 28th store.

Lines were long but people didn’t seem to mind.

“I just came out to see what I could find,” said Joyce Pulley of Wendell.

Tracy Johnson of east Raleigh said she had been watching the store go up at 7025 Knightdale Boulevard. “I’m just browsing,” she said. “I’ve been watching it, but I didn’t realize this many people would be here.”

GIENC expects large crowds on opening day, though the Knightdale crowd was especially large.

The nonprofit business advertises in advance and sends out mailings to residents in local neighborhoods. They even hired two off-duty Knightdale police officers to control traffic.

McLain said the nonprofit expects about 1,000 sales transactions at most openings.