Senior health science major Erin Perkins said she was embarrassed that her mother shopped at Goodwill when she was younger. Now Perkins buys just about everything there.
She has gotten sweatwear, vintage skirts and dresses, furniture, jewelry and even her past two cars through Goodwill.
Many college students shop for various items varying from books to furniture to clothes. College students are often found in Goodwill on Friday and Saturday nights, looking for clothes and other items to accompany them to theme parties, Muncie store manager Michael Pratt said.
"Ball State students are good shoppers on Friday nights and Saturday nights, because they have a lot of things going on that they want special clothing for," Pratt said.
Perkins said she's shopped at Goodwill for parties as well.
"My friend had a super hero party, and I went in there, and I found these sweet, kick--- purple boots for an Elastigirl costume," she said.
Pratt said students are commonly found in their busiest month of October for Halloween costumes, and during winter for ugly sweater parties, but students as well as other customers go there frequently for regular clothes as well.
"Sweatwear is like the perfect thing to get at Goodwill for a cheap price, because they are already broken in, and they're so comfy," Perkins said.
Pratt said college students make up a good amount of the Muncie Goodwill's sales year round.
"I really can't give a percentage, but guessing I would say [college students] could be 15-20 percent of our sales," he said.
Another common crowd found at the Muncie Goodwill is what many refer to as hipsters, who search for vintage clothing and other unusual items, Ball State sophomore and Goodwill employee David Clark said.
"I'll see [college students] buy like random sculptures and just weird stuff — not so much the fraternity and sorority type, but like those hipster-type crowds," he said.
Pratt said the Muncie Goodwill tries to bring customers from the community with sales. Everything in the Goodwill store is 50 percent off on the first Saturday of each month, and during August and September, students get 20 percent off their purchases.
Goodwill also provides jobs for the community. The Muncie Goodwill employs more than 40 people, four or five of which are Ball State students.
"Our basic mission is to help prepare finding and keeping jobs, and we are providing several jobs for the Muncie area," Pratt said. "By me hiring Ball State students, I am preparing them for their future because I am teaching them work ethics that will stay with them throughout their lives."
Clark, who has been working at Goodwill for about two years, said he thinks it is a good job because they work around his school hours when scheduling him for shifts.
Pratt said he thinks Goodwill is a good place for students to shop also because the MITS buses stop at the gas station right next door, so students without cars on campus can shop there too.
Students looking for cheap used cars can look to the Goodwill automobile donation and auction. Perkins said she has bought two cars there. The first cost $250 and the second one cost $340. Both needed minor repairs, but the savings were worth it, Perkins said.
Pratt said he takes pride in trying to make the Muncie Goodwill the best it can be, and it shows.
"We get a lot of compliments on our store," he said. "We have customers who come in that shop at thrift stores throughout the country, and they come in and say this is one of the nicest stores they've been in, and we have friendly customer service."
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