SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Julia Gagnon will perform a free concert at the Maine Mall-area Goodwill on Friday afternoon to encourage Mainers to get thrifty this Halloween.
The Cumberland native was recently voted into the "American Idol" Top 7, sparking a summer tour across Maine. On Friday, Oct. 18, she and her fiancé Nate will perform a mini-concert followed by a meet-and-greet at the event on Oct. 18 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Goodwill store at 555 Maine Mall Road in South Portland.
Gagnon, a former Goodwill store employee, credits the nonprofit for the interpersonal skills she now uses in her singing career. With her powerhouse vocals, Gagnon is giving back to the community by encouraging sustainable Halloween shopping.
"In the three years I worked at Goodwill, I learned how to talk with people and the fact that
everyone has a different story that is unique and beautiful in their own way. I also learned how important shopping secondhand can be when it comes to the environment," Gagnon said in a news release issued by Goodwill Northern New England.
Many Mainers would agree spending $50 on a costume you only wear once is not within their budget these days, so thrifting can save money while giving the environment a little break.
Goodwill NNE said nearly 83% of costumes end up in landfills making shopping secondhand, especially at Halloween, extremely important. A leader in reuse, the nonprofit says it diverts over 50 million pounds of donated goods from landfills annually, making shopping secondhand accessible and affordable.
Based on an international 2024 Halloween survey, the nonprofit said inflation has impacted how much families can spend on Halloween costumes this year.
"The survey shows that more people are planning DIY costumes this year with pop-culture
and character-based costumes leading in popularity," according to the release.
Gagnon and Goodwill NNE will also offer thrifted costume inspiration like "How to make an idol" on their social media platforms and in-person events.
"The average consumer can no longer afford to spend $50 on something they’ll only
wear once," Goodwill NNE Vice President of Retail Dave Robison said in the release. "We’re here to provide affordable, sustainable costumes that offer room for creativity, and discourage
throw-away culture."
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