As the summer winds down and back to school shopping looms right around the corner, many parents are already thinking about how to save money on those end of summer purchases to get children ready for school. Whatever your back-to-school needs, Goodwill Manasota has you covered. With a vast supply of gently used clothing, housewares and other items, Goodwill stores are the one-stop shopping spot for preschool, K-12 and college students.
“We know families are on a tight budget this coming school year and that every dollar counts,” said Bob Rosinsky, president & CEO of Goodwill Manasota. “That’s why we’ve stocked our stores with a large variety of new and gently used items to fill up that backpack or dorm room for back to school,” he said.
- Lace: Lace dresses, tops and even bottoms are a hot item now and will continue to be popular going into fall.
- Gothic: After several years of bright, bold colors for fall, fashion designers have retreated back to the basics. Try mixing basics like black jeans and tee shirts with statement pieces like a leather jacket. Check the coats and jackets section of Goodwill for black leather trenches or bomber jackets.
- Graphic Prints: Graphics are back in a big way. Since graphic tees and sweaters have been in and out of fashion frequently in the past fifteen years, scoring one from our stores should be easy. Retailers are selling these hot commodities at a premium with an intrinsic worn-in feel, but Goodwill shoppers know they can get the actual thing for much, much less. Don’t forget: a pair of scissors can take that oversized t-shirt from dull to fabulous when you cut in some fringe, alter the sleeves or open up the neckline.
- Peplum: It seems the designers are always exaggerating something, and this season it’s the hip. Whether achieved with ruffles or boning, the peplum shape is hot now. The dress section would be a good place to start, but this coveted silhouette can also be recreated with a pencil skirt and a long, loose blouse by cinching the waist of the blouse with a belt.
- Men’s dress shirts can be turned around and used as paint smocks for a preschooler’s classroom
- Plastic crates and baskets can be used as storage bins for school supplies
- Find a cool lamp for a college dorm room
- Guitars, horns or metronomes for the budding music student
- Calculators for the math student
- Sheets, blankets and towels for the college student
- Bicycles and helmets for riding to and from school
- Thermal and plastic drink bottles for students who bring their lunch from home
- Globes and maps
- Alarm clocks so that a student is not late for school
“It may not be foremost in your mind, but you’re helping the people in your community when you shop at Goodwill,” said Rosinsky. “Our Job Connection Centers have helped close to 12,000 people in the four counties we serve.”
That wouldn’t have been possible without the revenue generated from the sales of donated items. To find the Goodwill store nearest you, please visit our website at www.experiencegoodwill.org.
