Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana Blog

The Joy of Thrifting at Goodwill

Written by Gretchen E. Piper | Aug 13, 2026, 2:00:02 PM

National Thrift Shop Day is celebrated every year on August 17. It serves as a friendly reminder to visit your local thrift store. For many shoppers, no reminder is needed. For them, thrifting and secondhand shopping is a way of life.

Why choose clothing, housewares and furniture from a thrift shop over a traditional retailer? For starters, thrifted items are far more affordable. It is also a fantastic way to find unique or vintage pieces that showcase your individuality. Thrifting is both fun and exciting, and you never know what treasures you might discover down the aisles of a local Goodwill store or inside a bin at a Goodwill outlet. For a lot of thrifters, it’s all about the thrill of the hunt which brings a unique kind of joy that can't be discounted.

"Goodwill customers enjoy a great shopping experience and keep coming back for quality items, great prices and friendly staff," says Stacy Sunn, site leader in Macomb, IL. She also takes great pride in keeping her store exceptionally clean and organized.

A Positive Impact on the Planet and Community

Many thrifters are conscious of the environment and passionate about repurposing and reusing items. This mindset brings a feel-good factor to shopping that goes far beyond saving money. Goodwill has long been a dedicated steward of the environment, recycling as much as possible. In fact, millions of pounds of waste are kept out of local landfills every year thanks to Goodwill’s sustainability model.

Goodwill is deeply grateful for the community's ongoing support through donations and shopping. This vital cycle acts as the lifeblood of the organization, funding important programs that change lives through health , education, employment, and housing.

The next time you go thrifting at Goodwill, you can take extra joy in knowing that you are doing much more than saving money; you are making a lasting impact in your community.

To find a Goodwill location near you, visit goodwillindy.org/locations. To find out about Goodwill programs, visit goodwillindy.org/what-we-do/.