From Halloween Costumes to Fresh Starts

The impact of Goodwill in northern Michigan

By Lourin Sprenger | Oct. 11, 2025

If you’ve ever walked through the doors of a Goodwill store in northern Michigan—hunting for that just-right vintage jacket or the missing piece to a Halloween masterpiece—you’ve been part of something much bigger than yourself.

“Goodwill Northern Michigan operates nine thrift stores across our 19-county region from Alpena to Petoskey to Traverse City, plus an ecommerce department,” says Josh Olds, director of donated goods. “We also have a recycling and transportation team that tie everything together. Our stores fund our community programs, housing and homeless services, and Food Rescue.”

By the Numbers: Staff

Goodwill employs nearly 250 people across the region. From sorting donations and stocking racks, to helping shoppers find just what they’re looking for, to helping people move out of homelessness into housing, to rescuing and delivering 2.2 million pounds of nutritious food a year, there is no shortage of tasks for employees.

“Every position is part of our social enterprise model,” Olds says. “We’re creating empowering jobs that turn items people no longer need into critical programs that increase housing and food security for neighbors.”

Volunteers

In addition to the staff, about 300 volunteers donate their time to Goodwill’s mission.

“Most spend their time at our Food Rescue program—harvesting fruits and vegetables from local farms, repacking fresh and frozen food into family-sized containers, and delivering it to local pantries and meal sites,” Olds says. “Others serve dinner at our Goodwill Inn homeless shelter, 365 days a year—weekends and holidays included. In the stores, volunteers help alphabetize books, organize displays, and keep our shelves looking their best.”

Donated Goods

Each month, Goodwill Northern Michigan processes tens of thousands of donated items, clothing, furniture, housewares, books, and more. Altogether, that adds up to 5.5 million pounds of stuff. Even when items can’t be sold, they rarely go to waste.

“Reducing waste is a core part of our work,” Olds tells us. “If something can’t be sold, we recycle or repurpose it—textiles become industrial rags, metal is recycled, books go to secondhand marketplaces, and electronics are handled by certified recyclers. We always try to put every donation to its highest and best use.”

Dollars and Cents

When you shop or donate locally, your impact stays local. Olds says that “every dollar raised in our stores stays right here in northern Michigan. Store revenues cover all of the administrative costs of our Food and Housing programs, including Food Rescue…”

Who They Serve

Olds estimates that in addition to the impact of Food Rescue’s work—which delivers to 70 community meal sites and food pantries around the area—Goodwill also serves 1,500 people a year through their homelessness services, which work to provide access to shelter and housing. On top of that, Goodwill has provided $500,000 in store vouchers to neighbors in crisis.

“Our stores make it possible for every charitable donation to go directly to program services that bring food to neighbors and help people find home,” he says.

Halloween at Goodwill

There’s one time of year when the energy inside a Goodwill store hits a whole new level: Halloween.

“Halloween is one of our favorite times of year,” Olds says with a grin. “You’ll find the classic costumes, wigs, makeup, and decorations, but the real fun is in the DIY creativity.”

It’s the season of imagination, when a sparkly dress becomes a disco diva outfit or a flannel shirt turns into a lumberjack costume. “Our shoppers love building one-of-a-kind costumes from thrifted finds,” Olds says. “A vintage blazer for a mad scientist, a sequined dress for a disco diva, or a flannel and suspenders for a lumberjack look.”

The most popular Halloween finds? “Anything sparkly, black lace, cowboy boots, hats, and vintage dresses.”

The best time to shop? Olds says Halloween starts in July at Goodwill, and August and September usually have the best selection, “but even in October, you’ll find spooktacular items.”

And if you’re cleaning out your closets this fall, Olds says Goodwill stores are “always looking for costumes, accessories, formal wear, wigs, and anything with character.”

Get Involved with Goodwill

Step inside a Goodwill store, and you’ll see the surface—the clothes, the housewares, the friendly faces. But just below that surface hums a social enterprise quietly transforming lives.

“Our stores are more than retail—they’re a community lifeline,” Olds says. “When people shop or donate, they’re helping turn everyday items into lasting change.”

To get involved, Olds recommends the following:

1. Volunteer your time. “We’re always looking for more community members to join us as volunteers,” he says.

2. Give financially. “Financial gifts help deliver millions of pounds of rescued food, provide emergency shelter, and sustain programs that help neighbors thrive.”

3. Donate goods. “Every item dropped off at our donation doors supports local programs that feed and house our neighbors and keeps usable goods out of the landfill,” Olds says.

Learn more at goodwillnmi.org.