This month’s 12 Months of Thrifting prompt is to thrift a backpack for the upcoming school year. I took my niece and nephew with me to Goodwill Akron to shop for backpacks that we can fill for a couple of families in need of school supplies this fall.
I always find backpacks at Goodwill, but knowing how important backpacks are for kids, I wanted to see if we can find one that was durable and brand new with the tags still attached. We could have easily shopped online or at a chain retail store for a backpack, but going to Goodwill was a win-win: we got to fill a backpack for a student in need, and support Goodwill’s mission by shopping at their retail stores!
We first went to the Lakemore location and found a handful of gently used character backpacks, including Elmo, Transformers, and Finding Nemo. But since I personally don’t know the interests of the children we were shopping for, I decided to stick with neutral backpacks, just to be safe.
We made our way to the State Rd location and immediately spotted a rack of brand new backpacks in a variety of colors for only $8. We bought them in a couple of colors and can’t wait to fill them up with school supplies for the families.
A few tips to keep in mind if you’re heading to Goodwill to find a backpack for a fraction of the retail price:
• Many Goodwill stores carry a mix of new and gently used backpacks. If you find a secondhand backpack that you love, do a quick check inside the bag to make sure everything is in tact and pockets and zippers are all functioning properly.
• To clean, use a disinfecting wipe or spray or throw it in a mesh laundry bag, wash in warm water, and air dry.
• Trusted brands like Eastpak, L.L. Bean, and Jansport will ensure the backpack will get you through the school year
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Are you up for the challenge? Check out the upcoming prompts below!
