Discover Summer Solstice Fun at Goodwill - Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries

How will you spend the longest day of the year?

Here at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries, we hope you will share our pride in providing gently used clothing and goods by visiting one of our 14 retail locations in Massachusetts. We accept donations at nearly 30 locations.

When is the longest day of the year?

This year, the summer solstice for the Northern Hemisphere arrives on June 20. For those in the know, this extra-long sunny day becomes an ideal time to host a party, lounge by the pool, or attend one of the many local events celebrating the annual sun cycle.

What is the summer solstice?

It is an annual sun cycle that occurs twice a year, once in the Northern Hemisphere and once in the Southern Hemisphere. As we remember from science class, the earth rotates on its axis, cycling through days and nights on this tilted angle as it circles the sun each year.

During the June 20^th summer solstice, the earth tips towards the sun at its most extreme angle, resulting in the Northern Hemisphere receiving the most hours of sunlight of the entire year. (Thanks, Smithsonian!)

The world celebrates this wonderful event in a stunning array of ways. In Puerto Rico at midnight individuals dip backward in the ocean. Norwegians light huge bonfires, and the Swedish people dance around beautifully decorated maypoles. Here in the United States, baseball fans watch games under the midnight sun in Fairbanks, Alaska, while Bostonians host music festivals and more.

If this blissful extra warmth inspires you to celebrate, let us help you prepare. Here are a few items we found that may make your sunny day even brighter.

Bright terrycloth towels: Grab a few towels and be on your way before the ferry leaves for Spectacle Island. At these prices, you can load up on enough terrycloth to make it through two solstices!

Matchless bathing suits: Get your baby’s adorable on in these stars-and-stripes swimsuits. With little ones growing so fast, our bathing suits are almost always in near pristine condition!

Darling dresses: With warm weather on the calendar, indulge and splurge in one of these lightweight toddler Rachel Zoe or U.S. Polo Assn. sundresses detailed with flowers and lace.

Unique finds: Thrifting is a celebration in itself when you unearth one of these unique, occasionally handmade items. This young child’s deep teal dress featuring Our Lady of Guadalupe festooned with daisies and roses is a beautiful example of the richness that is pride in one’s culture and heritage.

Frothy summer shifts: This Blu Pepper romper, lightweight cotton pullover and Romani guayabera dress shirt move with the breeze, creating wistful memories of sunny days and warm nights.

Home indulgences: You’ll never know what you’ll discover at Goodwill for your home. Light up a patio after sundown or attract summer tree swallows with a bird feeder. It’s yours for the hunt!

Did you enjoy our sunshiny feature?

Thank you for reading our summer solstice blog – we so enjoy having you visit our site so regularly. Check back often for ideas and stories that will make thrifting at Goodwill an even more meaningful experience.

Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries

Goodwill is a community-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to help individuals with barriers to self-sufficiency to achieve independence and dignity through work. It provides job training programs for individuals who are responding to challenges such as disabilities, domestic violence, low educational attainment and previous incarceration. Goodwill also operates Goodwill Boston Career Center, a one-stop career center located in Boston that offers universal access to a broad range of services for job seekers. The Goodwill stores in Massachusetts provide jobs and on-the-job training opportunities and offer quality, low-cost goods to individuals and families looking for value. To learn more, visit Goodwill online at www.goodwillmass.org or follow on social media @goodwillboston.