Summer vacation is over and now it’s back-to-school time. But don't look so glum: it’s actually a great time for a personal and home makeover. Think of back to school as a gateway to a little freshening up for you and the kids.
In the spirit of the Marie Kondo revolution, in which we declutter our lives in favor of those few things that spark joy, the new school year is a great excuse to eliminate the old and consider the new. For growing children, that could mean a new wardrobe, new supplies, and maybe even some updated electronics.
Now here's a great thought: why not make something good come from your unwanted supplies and save money on the shopping spree. Americans spend $10.2 billion — about $500 per household with children — on back-to-school supplies. Carving just 20% off saves your family 100 bucks.
One of the 31 Palmetto Goodwill stores and donation centers along the South Carolina coast is a great place to do good while you do well. They provide us with five reasons to be happy about back-to-school time.
1. Create Your Unique Style for Less
If you go to a store for school clothes, anyone who buys from that store could show up wearing the same items. Create your own unique style at Goodwill for deeply discounted prices. The prices are so low you can outfit an entire wardrobe for what a handful of items at a store would cost.
2. Update Your Electronics
Does your old laptop run on Windows 2000? Back-to-school time is the perfect time for an upgrade. Bring the old horse-and-buggy computer to Goodwill and their certified re-furbishers can clean and update it for resale at the store. That keeps 1.7 million pounds of e-waste out of local landfills. Then shop for a refurbished computer of your own and save literally hundreds of dollars. The average price of a Palmetto Goodwill computer is $149.99.
3. Dorm Room Couture!
Furnish your new living space on campus with furniture, appliances, accessories, and household items from the Goodwill store. You’ll be amazed what you can find, and at flea market prices. Outfitting your new college dorm room or apartment will be so much fun it will ease the transition from summer vacation.
4. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Recycling clothing, toys, technology, household goods and furniture at Goodwill donation centers kept 16 million pounds of perfectly usable materials out of area landfills last year. When you donate, you’re making a contribution to the planet, as well as to people right here in the Lowcountry.
5. Saving Money, Improving Lives
It feels good to save hundreds making purchases at a Goodwill store. It feels great to know what that purchase does for the community. Sales of donated items last year generated revenue to serve more than 15,000 people, including employment training for 4,100 people seeking to improve their job skills or job-finding skills. That translates to millions of dollars of earned income back into the Lowcountry economy, not to mention the satisfaction clients get from earning a living and standing on their own two feet.
Look at that! The end of summer vacation and return to school started out as a bummer, but cleansing and decluttering, freshening up the wardrobe, saving money at Goodwill and donating what you no longer needed can brighten up your mood. You’ve got cash in your pocket, space in your closet and the good feeling of knowing you protected the Earth and helped neighbors return to independence.
To learn more about opportunities to donate and shop at Palmetto Goodwill’s stores, visit PalmettoGoodwill.org or call (843) 566-0072.
