Goodwill Halloween Photo Contest Rewards Do-It-Yourself Costumes

Oct. 1, 2012 - PRLog -- Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida is on the lookout for the best do-it-yourself Halloween costume in our area in the agency’s new “Thrift-n-Treat Halloween Photo Contest.”  Entrants are asked to submit photos of themselves in Halloween costumes made primarily of items found at their local Goodwill Retail & Donation Centers.

While Halloween stores offer costumes, most are mass-produced. Goodwill offers affordable options for creative shoppers to create one-of-a-kind outfits without breaking the bank. With items in every shape, size, and color — and from various eras — shoppers can rest assured they won’t run into anyone else wearing the exact same costume.

“Every year, budget-conscious shoppers come to our stores looking to make unique costumes,” says Goodwill spokeswoman Kirsten O’Donnell. “The Halloween photo contest is our way of rewarding their creativity.”

The first-prize winner will receive $100 to spend at a local Goodwill store. Second and third place will also receive awards.  To qualify for prizes, entrants must be residents of Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry or Glades counties age 18-up.

Entries can be submitted through October 20 on Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/goodwillswfl.  From October 21-29, the contest will be open for voting. Winners will be announced on Halloween.

Contest organizers hope to see at least 40 entries.

“Halloween is always one of the busiest times of year for our stores, so we know there are plenty of DIY costume shoppers out there,” says O’Donnell.  “Plus, not only is the process of creating your own costume a lot of fun, it also helps the community when people do their Halloween shopping at Goodwill.”  

Revenue generated at Goodwill’s 26 Southwest Florida Retail & Donation Centers fund programs and services that help people with disabilities and other disadvantages.  Last year, Goodwill provided job training and placement services, education, income-sensitive housing, transportation assistance, and more to 23,000 people in Lee, Coller, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades Counties.  

For more information about Goodwill, or to find a list of DIY costume suggestions, visit the agency’s website at http://www.goodwillswfl.org.