Dear readers,

Goodwill’s annual Trick of Treasurer Fundraiser is in full swing and runs through October 31.  For every dollar donated, you receive a “scratch ticket.”  Will your ticket be a trick or a treasure? Scratch away and you have the chance to win some of these great treasures:

- A Goodwill tote bag

- A Free Loyalty Card

- 10-20% off your next purchase

- $5 off your next $20 purchase

- And more!

Every dollar you donate will benefit Goodwill’s group homes so that we can make needed capital improvements. Goodwill has 23 residences that assist people who are in need of a comfortable home setting, while living as independently as possible. People served through these services may have an acquired brain injury, a developmental disability, or other barrier to independence that requires the support of Goodwill staff.

All 25 of Goodwill’s stores in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are participating in the fundraiser.

Want to learn more?  Watch a recent news piece on Goodwill’s group homes on WCSH-Channel 6 in Portland.

Just in time for Halloween, someone recently donated a complete mens “Beast” costume from Beauty and the Beast.  It is in great condition, but should be cleaned before donning it for that Halloween party.  There are already two bids on it, so if you need a costume soon, this may be the one for you!

You can view more pictures and place your bid on our eBay site.

Dear readers,

With the first of October comes thoughts of fall, pumpkins, apples…and of course, Halloween.  I am still trying to decide this year’s costume, but I will be heading to Goodwill this weekend to get some inspiration.

The best costumes are often found by browsing through clothes, accessories, and shoes.  Do you want be an ’80′s fashion queen for sixties flower child?  No problem.  You can even go more traditional by finding all black ensembles for your witch outfit or paint on some yellow lines for an instant bumblebee.  Imagine the possibilities!

In addition to one-of-a-kind clothing to inspire your costume creativity, Goodwill also has several Halloween accessories to complete your outfit.  We have tombstones, creepy-crawly bugs, plastic knives and pitchforks, earrings, devil horns, and witch hats.  There are also lights and home decorations to get your place decked out for the creepiest holiday of the year.

Don’t have time to put together a costume?  We also have pre-packaged outfits ready to go – you can be a chicken, cheetah, fireman, grapes (!), shark, pirate, and more.

Do you have costume ideas?

Share them with us or send us your pictures and we will feature you on the Goodwill blog!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by for Downtown Worker Appreciation Day yesterday. Shannon Bryan from MaineToday wrote a great entry about it. Check out all those Goodwill bags given away! Downtown Worker Day was a partnership between Portland’s Downtown District and Portland Buy Local.

A reminder to our readers–this Sunday, October 26 is the last day you can donate a gently used sweater or coat to Banana Republic and receive a 30% coupon. The BR’s in Nashua, Salem, & Portsmouth NH, S.Portland, ME, and Burlington, VT will accept your donations.

And as you know, Halloween is one week away and I have yet to finalize my costume. If you are in a similar situation, check out our guide to affordable and creative costumes. I know I will be frantically searching Goodwill’s offerings this weekend. While you are there, be sure to ask about our Trick or Treasure deal. For every dollar you donate, you receive a “scratch” ticket that may offer you some great savings on your purchase. The funds we raise will help provide capital improvements to Goodwill’s group homes.

Have a great weekend!