Here at Goodwill, we recently launched our month-long campaign to support independence for individuals with disabilities or other barriers to employment.  From now until July 6, Goodwill is accepting $1 donations in all 25 of our retail stores in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.  For every $1 donation you make, you are entered into a chance to win one of three Visa gift cards in the amounts of $250 or $500.

How do we use your donation?  Your contribution will help support Goodwill’s Workforce Solutions program, which helps people find – and keep – meaningful jobs.  Your contribution to the campaign, as well as your donations and purchases in our retail stores, directly supports individuals in our local northern New England communities.  Thank you for your continued support!

Though lately it does not seem likely, summer will  soon be here and it is a good time to get ready for outdoor adventures and to take advantage of the short, but lovely summers we have here in northern New England.
Goodwill is offering a complete line of summer accessories for a limited time.  Stop by any of our 25 retail stores in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont to browse our diverse selection of goods.

In addition to the great t-shirts, shorts, and summer dresses you will find, we are also featuring new bathing suits, beach towels, flip-flops, barbecue gear, hammocks, citronella candles, picnic gear, and lots more.  Prices on our summer items range from $1.98 to $24.98!

Have you made any summer finds at Goodwill lately?  Please share your stories with us!

Come on down to the Portsmouth Goodwill Retail Store for our May Day Weekend Sale! We will be featuring a HUGE new shipment of summer donated goods, such as t-shirts, shorts, bags, hats, beachwear, summer dresses, and lots more.

Also!  Because we have been on such a bike kick over here lately, we will be featuring a new collection of donated bikes for your choosing.  The event is May 1-3 and be sure to get there early to stock up on summer clothes.  Contact the Portsmouth store at (603) 430-2040 for more information.

The Fine Art of Accessorizing

It’s a tough economy.  What’s a girl to do?  You could feel sorry for yourself and wear the same outfits again and again.  Why not?  You don’t have the money to go out and splurge on new spring outfits just like the talking dummies in the Old Navy commercials.

Pick yourself out of that sorry slump and get smart about accessorizing!  Take a look at your current wardrobe.  Chances are, you have a plain white shirt and a pair of khakis or jeans.

You may put them on day in and day out and never think much about it.  That needs to change.  I firmly believe that when you look good, you feel good.  Let’s take a look at some simple ways to update that plain outfit and make it fabulous.  All of these accessories can be purchased at Goodwill, yard sales,  thrift stores, or picked out of your own closet.  Better yet, have an accessory swap party with your friends; with the exception of shoes, size does not matter!

The majority of the accessories I’m going to show you are directly from Goodwill.  Each piece was purchased for under $5.00 and some (like brand new necklaces) were only $1.00!!

Scarves: I think these are the unsung heroes of the fashion world.  Wear them around your neck, wrist, and waist; tie one around your purse strap, or in your hair.  They’re versatile and can add instant pizzazz to a simple outfit.  I’m positive MacGyver has saved the world on more than one occasion with nothing more than a scarf and paperclip.  If they can save the world, they can easily rescue your wardrobe.

Belts:   Many people forget about belts and that is a downright shame because they can add polish and make any outfit look more sophisticated.  Plus-size women sometimes shy away from these and that’s not always necessary.  Experiment with a few different types—thin and stretchy, thin and simple, or low-slung styles that dip down in the front (these especially are helpful because they elongate the torso).

Purses and Shoes:  Many women have ongoing love affairs with these two.  I use them to add punches of color to my clothes; even with a boring outfit, you can get compliments if you throw on a pair of bright red shoes.  You can get gold or silver after Christmas for a major deal—I gravitate toward these because they’re unexpected and I’m a sucker for anything shiny—not everyone chooses to wear gold or silver on a trip to the grocery store.  To make a major impact, coordinate your purse, belt, and shoes in a dramatic color.

Earrings and necklaces: These seem like an obvious choice and yet people are afraid to layer you don’t have to wear just one necklace at a time.

The jewelry case at Goodwill is a treasure trove.  See pieces of necklaces you like?  Take them apart and give them a new life.  Jewelry supplies can be found at craft stores for under $5.00 and most stores have simple, easy to follow directions on how to create simple jewelry pieces.  Here’s a necklace that I created with two pieces I purchased at Goodwill and reconfigured into a necklace I love.

Pins:  If there is one thing in the accessory world that makes my heart go pitter-patter it’s a vintage pin.  And you thought I was passionate about scarves!!  I love to add a bunch of rhinestone pins to dress anything up.  You can pin them on your shirt or purse.  I like to group them in three’s.  For some reason, I usually find most of my pins at yard sales.

On a final note, if the thought of rocking out in all these accessories makes you break out in hives, build up your confidence little by little.  Start with the red shoes and belt.  Or put on two necklaces instead of one.  I hope these little hints give you a new outlook on your wardrobe and your life!<–>

Thrify Chicks on MSN Money

Thrift Store Shopping as Renewable Energy

Opinion Piece in the Christian Sciece Monitor

Shopping Golightly on NBC

Don’t forget to sign the petiion on Facebook and if you would like to promote the petition on your blog, let us know, and we’ll send you the badge.  The Thrifty Chicks and their partner blogs (including us!) are working to bring attention the many social, economic, and environmental benefits of thrift store shopping.  Won’t you join the cause?

I am here in Burlington, Vermont, gearing up for the Goodwill & Bon-Ton Donation Drive & Spring Sale!  Tomorrow, March 11, from 9 am to 2 pm, we will be at the Bon-Ton in South Burlington, VT and Concord, NH, accepting your generous donations.  In exchange for every item donated, you get TWO coupons to Bon-Ton for 20% off your purchase!

Many of you may not be too familar with Bon-Ton.  They are a great department store, mostly popular in the Midwest.  They have women’s, men’s & kids clothing, as well as home and bath products, bags, accessories, and beauty products.  We are fortunate that the two locations in New England have partnered with us for this exciting event.   

Can’t make it out tomorrow?  No worries, the promotions runs from March 11-March 24.  You can bring in your donations at any point during this period and receive one coupon per donation.

Bon-Ton launched the Million Acts of Goodwill website in which you track your donation as we aim to hit our nationwide goal of one million donations!  You can log on, learn more about Goodwill’s mission, get tips for cleaning your your closets, and get the spring’s latest fashion trends.

We look forward to seeing everyone out there!

Goodwill kicked off its annual spring fundraiser yesterday.  This year we are doing something a little different.  We are raising funds to support Goodwill’s green initiatives to help lessen our impact on the environment.

For every dollar you donate in support of the Give Green-Get Green initiative between March 2 and March 31, you will be entered into a chance to one of three Visa gift cards.

(1) – $500 Visa Gift Card

(1) - $250 Visa Gift Card

(1) – $250 Visa Gift Card

All 25 retail stores in northern New England are participating in the Give Green-Get Green fundraiser.

What do the donations support?
As one of the early recycling leaders, Goodwill is committed to increasing its effort to help the environment while improving the lives of those we serve. This retail initiative will help Goodwill’s programs and services become “greener” by helping Goodwill purchase items such as:

* Low water use toilets and urinals

* Bike racks for some of our retail stores and other locations

* Shrubbery and other items that help to improve Goodwill’s “green spaces”

* Replacement windows and improved insulation for our buildings

* …as well as other items that help us serve our program participants while improving the environment

Questions?

Please call Rich Cantz at (207) 774-6323 x2315.

Spread the word about our blog:

]]> http://www.goodwillnne.org/blog/2009/03/give-green-get-green/feed/ 1 http://www.goodwillnne.org/blog/2009/02/out-with-the-old-save-on-the-new/ http://www.goodwillnne.org/blog/2009/02/out-with-the-old-save-on-the-new/#comments Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:50:32 +0000 Michelle Smith http://www.goodwillnne.org/blog/?p=1081 Mark your calendars, readers! From March 2 through March 8, Ann Taylor LOFT and Goodwill Industries of Northern New England invites you to donate a pair of gently worn pants at participating Loft store and save $15 on a new pair of pants!

Where you can Donate:

LOFT, South Portland, ME: Maine Mall, 364 Maine Mall Road

LOFT, Newington, NH: Fox Run Mall, 50 Fox Run Mall

LOFT, Burlington, VT: 49 Church Street

I hope everyone can make it out, it’s a great deal! All pant donations will be sold in Goodwill stores. Revenue from retail sales helps to support Goodwill’s job training programs and support services.

The staff at Ann Taylor will even help you pick out the best pair of pants for your style. Loft offers three “feminine and fashionable pant fits all body types”: Ann, a classic fit; Marissa, a modern fit; and Julie, a curvy fit. Be sure to pick up a great pair of new pants and help Goodwill’s programs all in one transaction!

Spread the word about our blog:

]]> http://www.goodwillnne.org/blog/2009/02/out-with-the-old-save-on-the-new/feed/ 1 http://www.goodwillnne.org/blog/2009/02/national-thrift-store-month-join-the-petition/ http://www.goodwillnne.org/blog/2009/02/national-thrift-store-month-join-the-petition/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:47:28 +0000 Michelle Smith http://www.goodwillnne.org/blog/?p=1086 The Thrifty Chicks have started a petition to create a National Thrift Store Month and bring attention to the economic and environmental benefits of shopping in thrift stores. As they state on their blog, “This is poetic shopping. Buy a repurposed item and the profits go to repurposing a life!”

They are working to educate and recruit people to the cause. Join the Petition for National Thrift Store Month on Facebook by clicking on the image above (you can also find a direct link on our blog right beneath the blogroll). Spread the word and recruit your friends, family, and co-workers! We need to work together to gain a national momentum!

Reminder: Top Five Reasons to Shop Thrift Stores

1.Thrift store shopping is green! It gives a second life to goods and keeps usable goods out of the landfill.

2. From Thrifty Chicks: “Thrifting is economical and can knock thousands of dollars off an annual budget without knocking the quality of many products.”

3. Thrift store shopping often supports non-profits that offer a variety of services for individuals. At Goodwill, revenue from our stores helps to fund our job training programs and support services. That is purposeful shopping!

4. Thrift store shopping allows you to create a style all your own. There is nothing more satisfying than finding original and one-of-a-kind items that speaks to your personal aesthetic.

5. Thrift store shopping is a lesson in history. Looking through the racks and shelves of thrift stores, we find clothing, pictures, art, home goods, and unique items that speak to the material culture of the past.