Host Thanksgiving on a Shoestring: Goodwill of Colorado Has Your Table, Décor & Outfit Covered

Gobble, gobble, bargain hunters! Halloween is in the rearview mirror and Thanksgiving is on deck. That means it’s time to plan the feast, set the table and find something to wear without carving a big slice out of your budget. Whether you’re gathering with family, friends, coworkers or your community, you can pull together the whole look for less, from the outfit to the table to a one-of-a-kind host gift.

However you celebrate this November, what matters most is creating a warm, comfortable gathering for you and your guests. Here’s how to do it on the cheap.

For Your Kitchen & Table

Hosting Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving this year? Goodwill of Colorado’s stores have what you need in the kitchen and on the table. If your kitchen is short a few tools for the big feast, check the housewares aisles for pots and pans, cooking utensils, mixing bowls and more.

Inventory varies by store and changes daily, so it pays to pop in more than once. You might even score that blender you’ve been dreaming of!

Once the menu is planned and the groceries are bought, set a table that matches your style. A vintage tablecloth, colorful glassware, mix-and-match plates and silverware let you build a tablescape that’s beautiful, budget-friendly and sustainable.

Best of all, you’re unlikely to see the same pieces on anyone else’s table. Nothing matches, and yet somehow, everything belongs.

For Your Home

If decorating for the season is your jam, fall décor and Thanksgiving pieces are already on the shelves.

Look for a ceramic pumpkin to add to your collection, a leafy garland for the front door or a faux-feathered turkey that’s destined to become the centerpiece of your living room (and the conversation).

For the Host

Host gifts can be tricky, but a thrifted find is easy on the wallet and big on thought. For a host you know well, look for something that suits their personality: a tote covered in pups for the dog lover or a previously loved bracelet for the fashionista.

Don’t know the host well? A unique vase for fresh flowers or a seasonal décor piece for their table is always a winner.

For You

Everyone (OK, almost everyone) loves a new outfit for a celebration. This season is begging for new-to-you corduroys, a fluffy sweater, stylish boots or a necklace to complement your favorite blouse.

Goodwill of Colorado carries clothing and accessories for the whole family, so you can add a piece or two or build an entirely new look for gathering around the table. While you’re at it, grab an ugly sweater. You know you’ll need one in a few weeks!

Shop With a Purpose

Here’s the feel-good part: Goodwill of Colorado is a locally led nonprofit. Every tablecloth, turkey platter or cozy sweater you buy helps fund its no-cost education and job training programs in communities across Colorado.

Your purchases and donations help fellow Coloradans get job training and placement, earn their high school diploma, receive heating assistance when temperatures drop, and access other services that help change their lives.

Thrifting is good for the planet, too. Our donors kept 145 million pounds of donated items out of Colorado landfills last year; giving those items a second life means your holiday table is beautiful, budget-friendly and better for the environment.

Make Room Before the Guests Arrive

Before the doorbell starts ringing, give your closets and cupboards a quick cleanout. That stack of mismatched mugs, the sweater you haven’t worn in years and last season’s décor can all find new homes at Goodwill of Colorado.

Drop off your gently used clothing, housewares and holiday items at any donation center, and you’ll free up space for the feast while helping a neighbor.

According to Goodwill of Colorado, one donated bag of clothing helps provide an hour of career training for someone in our community. Talk about something to be thankful for!

Find a Store Near You

With 45 stores across Colorado, there’s likely a Goodwill near you.

Find your nearest Goodwill of Colorado store and start putting together your Thanksgiving table, and your look, today.