Shoppers line up for Goodwill's grand opening

With the rising cost of items and inflation hitting 3% in September, more shoppers are turning towards thrifting.

Dozens were lined up for Goodwill's grand opening in Fort Oglethorpe on Thursday. This is the second Goodwill location in Fort Oglethorpe.

It's not just the unique pieces or vintage finds, the low prices are also drawing more people in.

"It was like a flashback of Black Friday, 2010 you know, there was the line, the excitement in the kind of the mass grabs, and then you go through your little cart," said Lee Tchison, local shopper.

During times where people are looking for ways to cut costs, thrift stores provide that outlets. From gently used clothes, shoes, decor and even appliances, customers take something old and make it new.

"During this day and time, as you said, you know to save money, that's everything now. So, it always helps. You know, if you can find a bargain here and there," said Susan Freeman, shopper.

Thrift stores are all across the Greater Chattanooga Area. You can clean your closet or garage and donate gently used items. Just contact your nearest thrift store to see what items they are in need of.

"I also like donating my own stuff, like, because even if there's stuff that you don't like anymore, there's definitely stuff that you could give away, that someone else will probably want, and they could have use of it. So I think it's like recycling," said Lily Mister, Shopper.

The new Goodwill in Fort Oglethorpe is still hiring. If you're interested, you can find opportunities here.

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Burlington's Success Burlington recently collaborated with Goodwill Opportunity Centers in Chattanooga and Dalton to host a series of hiring events aimed at staffing Burlington store locations, including their new Fort Oglethorpe and Dalton stores. Burlington store managers Forrest Thomasson, Desmond Hubbard, and Carol Kambhampati shared that hosting hiring events with Goodwill proved to be significantly more desirable than holding hiring events at their own stores. “It was such a smooth process. Goodwill Opportunity Center staff members greeted applicants and made them feel welcome, which allowed us to focus on conducting interviews,” said Carol. Attendees were also invited to sign up for Goodwill’s free My Career Advisor online platform, which supports job seekers through every step of their career journey. The platform offers tools and resources for career exploration, resume building, training and education, and access to community resources. The collaboration between Burlington and Goodwill resulted in 132 job placements in our region. “Goodwill Opportunity Centers are a gold mine of a resource,” said Forrest. Desmond added, “I would definitely recommend that other employers reach out to Goodwill for hiring support.” Whether you're a job seeker or an employer in Southeast Tennessee or Northwest Georgia, Goodwill is here to help. Call (423) 629-2501 or visit www.goodwillchatt.org/missionservices.