Feeling good

What can $25 get you at Goodwill?

There were more than 105 million donations made to Goodwill in 2017.

Racks and racks of clothes fill more than 3,300 store locations, with most prices under $5 for individual items.

Dianne Beltz, Goodwill Industries director of donated goods retail, said an individual probably could get four to five pieces of clothing for under $25, depending on what they were looking for.

So, I decided to set out and see just what $25 can get you at Goodwill.

There were probably about 20 racks of shorts, skirts, shirts and dresses to choose from at the Goodwill located off Main St. in Norman. Each item has its own colored tag, and certain colors go on sale each week, said Loni Watkins, an employee at the Norman store.

Clothes with a yellow tag were half off on the day I visited, but proved hard to find as it was nearing the end of the week. Watkins said this is a common occurrence, the sale items — which are knocked down to about $2 — go fast.

After a fair amount of time picking out various tops and bottoms that appeared to go well together, I entered the dressing room with about nine items.

I came out with six items: a pair of light wash jean shorts, a blue skirt with tiny, white polka dots, a simple red shirt with white lace at the top, a black and white shirt that also could function as a throw-over jacket, a light blue shirt and a matching light blue scarf.

I laid all of the items on

the counter for Watkins to ring up and the total came to $20.06. Somehow I had managed to create seven different outfits with even less money than I had thought.

My wallet certainly felt good about creating a week’s worth of outfits with the same amount of money that might get you one shirt at a normal department store. This feeling I had is a factor for why people of all different backgrounds shop at Goodwill, Beltz said.

“It makes them feel good about themselves, but also they’re getting a really good value,” Beltz said. “So if they were to go to other retailers would they get the same amount for their $25? Probably not.”

It’s not just about getting a good deal for some people, though, Beltz said. Some people are in financial situations that make shopping at stores like Goodwill their only option.

Helping individuals afford items that enhance their dignity is a part of Goodwill’s founding mission, Beltz said.

“It really goes back to helping people with disadvantages and helping them be able to maintain their household and still have things like clothing that are still kind of in fashion,” Beltz said.

Goodwill also has several programs aimed at helping people find work, Beltz said. Having nice clothes to wear to job interviews and in job settings is a factor of that.

“Everything that we do just really turns right around to empower people to get employment,” Beltz said.

I’ve worn the clothes I bought several times since that day and have even gotten a few compliments on them. The fact that I feel just as good in a $5 shirt, over a $20 one, shows the impact stores like Goodwill can have on people who can’t afford the $20 shirt.

“I work for Goodwill because I know everyday I’m helping somebody, even though I might not see their face, but I know I’ve changed somebody’s life everyday,” Beltz said.

Helping individuals afford items that enhance their dignity is a part of Goodwill’s founding mission.” DIANNE BELTZ, GOODWILL INDUSTRIES DIRECTOR OF DONATED GOODS RETAIL

[PHOTOS BY ANYA MAGNUSON, FOR THE OKLAHOMAN] Sierra Rains-Moad models some of the clothes she bought for under $25, including a red shirt for $5 and a skirt for $2.50, at a Goodwill in Norman.

The clothes that Sierra Rains-Moad bought, seen above and at left, cost no more than $25 at a Goodwill in Norman.

Sierra Rains-Moad models some of the clothes she bought for under $25, including the white blouse and red shirt for $5 each and shorts for $4, at a Goodwill in Norman.

[PHOTOS BY ANYA MAGNUSON, FOR THE OKLAHOMAN] Sierra Rains-Moad accepts a receipt from cashier Loni Watkins at a Goodwill in Norman.