While Goodwill Manasota is dedicated to “Changing Lives Through the Power of Work” through its mission-integrated donated goods operations all year long, National Thrift Shop Day (August 17) provides a great opportunity to encourage community members to shop at – and donate to – its retail stores.

National Thrift Shop Day is dedicated to celebrating the practice of thrifting and the joy of finding unique, one-of-a-kind items. At Goodwill, that thrill of the hunt also leads to creating job training and employment opportunities, all while diverting millions of pounds of items from landfills and, ultimately, helping individuals improve financial stability and build stronger communities. 

Consumers report numerous reasons for shopping second-hand: while nearly all love the thrill of the hunt while allowing their dollar to go further, others  – particularly younger generations – report that sustainability is also an important driver.

Data from ThredUp notes that, in 2024:

• The U.S. secondhand apparel market grew 14% – the strongest annual growth since 2021;

• 58% of consumers shopped secondhand apparel – an all-time high;

• Thrift store shoppers save an average of $1,760 per year by purchasing secondhand; and

• Overall, consumers can expect to save between 70-85% off retail prices at thrift stores.

With the new school year now beginning for Florida students, Nerd Wallet reports that, in a recent survey, that “parents of K-12 or college students who plan to back-to-school shop estimate they’ll spend $741, on average, for expenses such as clothing, supplies and books. That’s $200 more than last year’s average." Fortunately for Florida families, the back-to-school sales tax holiday extends the full month of August, where historically the tax holiday has only been for two weeks – which makes this the perfect time to stock up on necessities as well as one-of-a-kind items for the entire family.

“During National Thrift Shop Day, shoppers can not only celebrate the values of smart shopping and sustainability, along with enjoying the excitement of unique finds, they can also feel good about helping their neighbors to find work, build  job skills, and move toward financial stability,” said Donn Githens, president and CEO of Goodwill Manasota. “The average donation to Goodwill powers three hours of education and training. We are so grateful to our shoppers and donors, who are helping Goodwill to build better lives and stronger communities.”

In 2024, in both its Manasota and Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast territories, Goodwill Manasota served over 7,000 individuals, including over 460 veterans, employed roughly 70% team members with a self-identified barrier to employment or documented disability, provided over 118,000 hours education and training hours (on the clock), placed over 1,560 people in jobs, and diverted more than 98 million pounds from landfills.

For more about Goodwill or to find a convenient location to donate or shop, visit experiencegoodwill.org or call 941-355-2721.

About Goodwill Manasota
Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that changes lives through the power of work. Goodwill’s mission-integrated operations assist individuals with barriers – such as people with disabilities, veterans, older adults, and other impediments to stable employment –  by providing jobs, job skills training and education, and life and career coaching. In 2024, Goodwill served over 7,000 individuals, placed 1,563 in jobs, assisted 463 veterans, collected over 234,600 pounds of food for area food banks, and diverted 98.4 million pounds from landfills. For more information or for a comprehensive listing of locations, visit experiencegoodwill.org or call 941-355-2721.