As the weather begins to warm up and spring cleaning season approaches, students had the chance to sell unwanted items for a low price at the Geography, Environmental Studies & Sustainability, and Conservation Club (GESS-C) Spring Cleaning Thrift Event on March 12 from 3 – 7 p.m. in the TSAR.
The event functioned as an indoor garage sale where students could browse and purchase items directly from other students, including jewelry, clothes, books, magazines, and more.
“It’s been a really nice turnout,” Zachariah Cline, sophomore ecology, evolution, and organismal biology (EEO) major and event coordinator for GESS-C said. “It’s been a really inviting atmosphere, and you can tell that people are glad to have it because everybody needs to get rid of something.”
There were eight vendors selling items throughout the day. One student made around $25 by the end of the event.
“We originally had about 11 tables planned,” Cline said. “We had a few people drop, which can be difficult when planning events like this, but we’ve still had a lot of participation from people walking by and coming in to check it out.”
The club had a sign posted outside of the TSAR to welcome students into the event.
“We had a little bit of trouble with publicity. Corq used to be very valuable, but overall, being able to do it in the TSAR has helped a lot of people just come in, even if they didn’t know what was happening.”
The tables were set up by the hour, so every seller had a chance to sell their items, even with having classes.
“It’s very reminiscent of a farmer’s market where everybody’s walking around,” he said.
Clothing was the most common item at the event, along with small accessories and trinkets.
“Clothes end up being left behind when people move out of the living centers. So events like this really reduce that waste,” he said.
Mariah Braxton, sophomore computer information systems major, was among one of the students selling items at the event.
“I see it as another way to recycle. I don’t feel right throwing clothes away. They can always go to somebody,” she said.
Braxton offered accessories and clothes, including pants, skirts, basic casuals, and shoes. The most popular items that she sold were accessories.
“[The event has been] really good. It was really nice … I’ve talked to a lot of people, and I thought that was really fun,” she said.
Nola Boyle, senior English education major, stopped by after noticing the event walking by the TSAR.
“I like seeing what everyone’s personality is like through the things they have,” she said.
Beyond providing students with a chance to buy and sell items, Cline said the event also supports the club’s goals to provide sustainability options, especially when a lot of items are thrown away during move-out.
“Being able to encourage the reuse of objects and exchange of objects rather than throwing things straight to the dump is why events like this are really important.”
