It is common for families in West Plano to drop off old clothes at their local Goodwill store, but a fear of being labeled is keeping people from actually entering the store after leaving the donation lane. Goodwill is a smart way to shop and people should not be afraid to go in and check out what it has to offer.

People who can afford to buy brand names oftentimes look down upon wearing used clothing because they think it is gross or just for those with a lower income. Because of this fear, people are spending $40 on clothes that they could easily find for $4 by thrifting. Goodwill is stocked with great finds, it just takes a little bit of digging. The employees make this job even easier by keeping Goodwill stores clean and organized, especially since the recent renovation of the Goodwill located on Midway and Frankford.

One of the main things that keeps people from buying at Goodwill is a fear of a lack of sanitation. People borrow their friend’s clothing all of the time, but is it labeled as unsanitary when they do not know the previous owner. The difference between wearing the clothing of someone you know and someone you do not is purely mental, not physical or bacterial. While it is true that not all Goodwill stores wash clothing before putting it on the racks, this line of thinking is a moot point if you own a washing machine or have the means to go to a laundromat.

The fact that so many people in West Plano refuse to set foot in a Goodwill is subconsciously based on a fear of rubbing shoulders with (and therefore being associated with) those of a different socioeconomic class. A small number of millennials have decided to ignore this trend of classism and take advantage of Goodwill, but not without the questioning of their parents who are likely afraid that they will be thought of as “in need” because of where their children choose to shop.

People picture Goodwill as a dump with people in tattered clothing aimlessly wandering around, but that could not be farther from the truth. Goodwill is filled with men, women, and entire families who are likely no different than yours. There is no need to be embarrassed to shop there, whether your family has fallen on hard times or not.