Spring cleaning season is here! Instead of throwing unwanted things away, students will have the chance to sell their items and shop at the Geography, Environmental Studies & Sustainability, and Conservation Club (GESS-C)’s Spring Cleaning Thrift Event on March 12 from 3-7 p.m. in the TSAR.
The Spring Cleaning Thrift Event will function as an indoor garage sale where students can browse and purchase directly from other students. Students are encouraged to sell anything they may want to get rid of, including clothes, blankets, books, jewelry, and more.
Andi Clark, junior cell biology, molecular biology, and biomedical sciences major and president of the GESS-C club, is the face of the idea. Clark originally developed the concept while serving as treasurer for Cardinals for Conservation, which has since merged with GESS to make GESS-C.
“I wanted to be able to combat the waste that occurs during moveout and give students a chance to earn some cash in the process,” Clark said.
Clark emphasized that thrifting plays a larger role in sustainability efforts, particularly in comparison to fast fashion.
“Buying new fast fashion items not only comes with a heavy carbon footprint for the production and transportation of these items, but also comes with massive fabric waste when companies produce too much, and harms workers overseas by funding harsh and unsafe work environments,” Clark said. “There are sustainable clothing companies out there, but these garments can be expensive, and starting with thrifting similar items is way more budget-friendly.”
Students interested in selling their items can reserve a table by filling out the online form linked in the club’s Instagram, @gessc.svsu. The deadline to sign up is March 11, the day before the event. The cost to reserve a table is $5, cash only.
“Thrifting and even borrowing items helps to give them a longer life and keep them out of landfill, which in this day and age, with so many synthetic materials, is vital to reducing microplastic contamination. It also means that the cost per wear of a high-quality item can be drastically reduced.”
The $5 table fee will go toward funding materials for GESS-C’s general meetings and sustainability-related projects within the Geography Department.
“There’s a sense of fulfillment that comes with being able to foster stronger, sustainable practices on campus, but it is also just plain exciting,” Clark said. “We have hosted and been a part of so many events since I first joined the group back in 2022, but I always love seeing how we grow and change our style of programs. This is definitely one of my favorite events we do, shortly followed by Sustainability Bingo.”
Payment methods for shoppers will vary depending on the seller. Sellers can offer other forms of payment, including cash, Venmo, CashApp, and PayPal.
“Items being sold are usually cheaper than you can find them online, and you get a chance to help build a sense of community,” Clark said. “There are also some really cute clothes that you can’t find in stores often, if at all, so it’s a perfect time to refresh your spring wardrobe with new-to-you pieces.”
The club offers meetings every other Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. in SE 121. The meeting the night before the event offers students the chance to learn basic hand sewing repairs with all materials provided. Students will also be educated on how to thrift sustainably outside of the event and make their clothes last longer.
“Our mission focuses on education and awareness of sustainable practices, so by hosting an event where students can actively participate, we are doing just that,” Clark said.
