By Kim Praniewicz

With so much change during the past six months, it’s hard to say for sure what the future will bring. But, at least for now, it looks like Florida schools will be back in session this fall.

At a time of year when Americans usually crowd store aisles with kids in tow, parents are learning to navigate a new kind of back-to-school shopping: one that means price-matching earbuds and webcams alongside erasers and whiteboards.

So why not simplify your school supply run – and save money – by shopping at Goodwill instead? At your local Goodwill, you can find back-to-school essentials at great prices – and with every item you check off your list, you’ll be supporting critical programs that help neighbors in need.

1. You can protect the family budget. According to the National Retail Federation, American families planned to spend almost $700 per household on school shopping last fall. No matter your family’s financial situation, now is a good time to be more frugal – and thrifting for school supplies is an easy way to save. At Goodwill, you can find lightly used clothes, shoes, dorm décor, pens, colored pencils, classroom supplies and more at a steep discount
   from big-box retailers.
2. It’s better for the environment. Here’s something they don’t tell you about the back-to-school deals: The apparel industry is a big contributor to pollution and waste. Plus, a lot of those clothes (and backpacks, pencil cases and laptop bags) wind up in a landfill after a short period of use. By shopping at Goodwill, you’re helping to divert more than 3 billion pounds of clothing and household goods from landfills every year.
3. You’re sharing your values with your children. Kids have a selective memory, as any parent knows. But one thing they’ll always remember is the example you set for them. It’s great to talk to your family about the importance of sustainability and charity, but the lesson is more likely to stick if you follow through with action.
4. You’re creating jobs. Part of Goodwill’s mission as a nonprofit is to help our neighbors achieve their goals. As tens of thousands of local families struggle with job loss and financial hardship in the wake of COVID-19, that’s more important than ever. When you shop at
   Goodwill, you’re helping a neighbor in need access job placement services, career counseling, vocational training and other essential resources.

Goodwill is committed to the safety of shoppers, donors and employees at all its stores, and we’ve backed up that promise with ongoing precautions. You’ll dodge the crowds, find great bargains – and most important, you can feel good about where your money is going.

Kim Praniewicz is Senior Director of Marketing, Communications and Workforce Development for Goodwill Industries of Central Florida. The nonprofit has 30 retail locations across Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Brevard and Volusia counties, including a newly opened store in Lake Nona.