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Teens Find Thrift Treasures

Six El Toro High School students shopping at a Goodwill store in Lake Forest find more than great bargains.

Recently, Lake Forest Patch invited a handful of El Toro High teens to see how far they could stretch a $25 clothing budget.

The twist? Take that $25 to the .

El Toro High School senior Ryan Lewis pulled a snowboarding sweatshirt ($9.99) over his head in the aisle of the Lake Forest Goodwill store on El Toro Road. 

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"This sweatshirt would have cost $50 at a full-price store," Lewis said about his first find. "You can find the coolest things here for cheap."

Next was a red tie ($1.99), and within a few minutes, he found two more T-shirts ($1.99 each). 

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During their shopping stint, the students discovered bargains, as well as a better understanding of Goodwill's role in providing jobs within the Lake Forest community.

There are 38 employees at the Lake Forest Goodwill store and more than 1,000 employed altogether by Goodwill of Orange County, according to Goodwill marketing specialist Stephanie Kupanoff.

"Goodwill provides education, training and employment programs and services to people with disabilities and other disadvantages," Kupanoff said. "We focus on each individual's needs and abilities, with the goal of helping them achieve success in landing a new job."

The El Toro High thrifters also said they like the environmentally friendly aspect of shopping at Goodwill.

Another of the six students from El Toro High School was senior Brock Becker, a self-described "green" consumer.

"I love the ocean, and I surf," he said, "so I'll do anything I can to keep the ocean clean. I ride my bike to school so I don't use gas, and I recycle."

Becker found a "super soft" sweater and four shirts, tallying less than $25.

Another El Toro High School senior, Wendy Acquazzino, picked out a houndstooth sweater for less than $10.

"The prices here are definitely lower than I expected," Acquazzino said. "Plus you're helping people when you buy clothes here."

Acquazzino said she generally shops at a large retail chain mall store, which she calls her "one-stop shop."

Kinley Ryan, also a senior at El Toro High School, said the thrill of the hunt is what draws her to thrift shopping.

"I found a shirt and a short gray jacket [at Goodwill] that would have cost easily $35 [at retail price]" she said. Ryan's finds totaled less than $12.

Ryan Lewis, another ETHS senior, said the Goodwill trip was a chance to have fun with friends and "get some cool clothes."

Patrick McKellips, an El Toro freshman, said he would recommend thrift shopping to his friends.

"It's cheap. You don't have to go out and buy new clothes," he said.

Senior Fil Perkins found a vintage hand-knit Canadian wool sweater, a jacket, a pair of slippers, and a sweater for less than $25.

"You can save a lot of money here," Perkins said.

Goodwill of Orange County, in addition to employing local residents at its thrift stores, also helps find work for people through many programs, provides job-seeking skills and vocational training. Also, Goodwill assists individuals with disabilities or other disadvantages in creating "micro-enterprises."

Last year, the organization collected more than 6 million pounds of electronic devices, which were recycled or refurbished through e-waste events.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans discard about 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per person per year, which accounts for about 4 percent of municipal solid waste. Goodwill accepts clothing donations for resale in its stores; the items that do not sell are compressed into large bales and sold to recycling companies.

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