Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma

Tips for Throwing A Low-Waste Garden Party

By Juliana Lopez

2023 seems to be the year of the garden party. I knew that when I threw my annual birthday fundraiser, I’d have to have a garden party theme. I also knew that Goodwill would be the perfect place to find the party supplies I needed.

Glassware Galore

On any trip to Goodwill, you can bet that there will be some great vases to choose from and of course my favorite location, 39th and Penn, didn’t let me down. The store’s housewares section is unmatched and I always find the most incredible glass dishes. I scored four beautiful pink glass ramekins to serve as the containers for our Elote Bar toppings. I also grabbed three colorful vases for my tables. There were also plenty of baskets to choose from and I found two good-sized ones to hold all the craft supplies for my scrapbook table.

 

Juliana celebrating at her Goodwill Garden Party for her birthday with items she obtained from a Goodwill thrift store.

Less Waste, More Fun!

One thing I don’t like about hosting parties is all the waste that comes with it. There are usually a lot of single-use items that get thrown out after the fun is over. On a mission to reduce this waste for my party, I went to the Goodwill location on 23rd and Meridian and found some amazing items, including a set of six metal mixing bowls that double as great serving dishes and a stack of food trays perfect for popping some appetizers into the oven.

This location also had a ton of amazing craft supplies in bundles for only a few dollars each. I found ribbons in all the colors I wanted in one bundle and adorable crocheted flowers in another. These made for the perfect finishing touches on my table decorations.

 

Vintage Has My HeartDecorated table with thrifted floral tablecloth, thrifted pink vase with flowers, thrifted ribbon, and thrifted floral plates

The absolute best Goodwill find for my garden party were the beautiful vintage plates I found on 39th and Penn. These plates have a pink trim and floral design of my dreams – and they were only ninety-nine cents each! I not only had a perfectly on-theme table setting but I now own a set of plates that I can bring out for all sorts of fun occasions. I love finding party supplies at Goodwill because not only do these secondhand items get a new life, they also become part of the most special celebrations in our lives.

P.S.: All of these party supply finds will find their way into my party cabinet until my next get-together or the next time a friend needs to borrow something!

 

Juliana Lopez is an Oklahoma City-based social media manager and consultant, focusing on empowering Latinx-owned businesses. As the visionary behind OKC Latina, she works to foster a vibrant network among artists, entrepreneurs, and diverse communities, driving collaboration and creativity. With a passion for sustainable fashion and environmental consciousness, Juliana collaborates with Goodwill on innovative content and thrifted projects, advocating for a greener, more waste-conscious lifestyle.