Campus thrift shop blends student passtime with sustainability efforts

Eastern opens Thrift Warriors

by Noel Teter

Willimantic, CT (02/15/2024) — Thrift shopping is a beloved pastime of many college students. Eastern Connecticut State University recently designated a space on campus where students can enjoy this activity while contributing to the University's sustainability efforts. The "Thrift Warriors" thrift shop opened this February in Winthrop Hall.

The campus thrift shop is part of an enhanced commitment to sustainability across Eastern, led by the Institute for Sustainability. The thrift shop is "a student-run place where the campus community can donate gently used items and where students can get the items they need, free of charge," said Patricia Szczys, director of the institute.

At the opening on Feb. 1, students browsed lightly used clothes, houseware and school supplies. As with any thrifting trip, their motives ranged from fashion to personal economics and environmental consciousness.

"It's just a great way to recycle really awesome clothes," said Aidan Stewart. He added that thrifting is a way to "help someone who might not be able to afford (new clothes) right off the shelf."

Jannik Wille enjoys thrifting as a social activity, a way to enhance his wardrobe and, most importantly, a sustainable pastime. "It's a great way to help the environment," said Wille, whose roommates sparked his interest in thrifting. "It makes you feel good."

Eastern's campus thrift shop offers goods for the needs and tastes of all students. "You can find any style in one place," said Briana Santos, staff member at Thrift Warriors. "We don't have just wardrobe; we have dorm essentials and daily items students might need."

Given the rise of fast fashion, college students are looking for an alternative that is healthier for the environment. "We all know that there are items we no longer want that are still useful," said Szczys. "That's really the foundation for enculturating ourselves to reuse, upcycle and reduce wasteful lifestyles."

Students often thrift for financial reasons. Thrifting is a viable option for clothes shopping "with how expensive clothes are," said Amani Jones. Thrifting is also "a fun talking point" among friends because of the items they find.

"Our generation is heavily invested in thrifting," said Logan Brennan, who is aiding a social media effort to raise awareness of the campus thrift shop. This movement is largely "fashion-based," as college students are interested in "vintage clothing," said Brennan.

The campus thrift shop is not just a place for students to take goods from. It is also a place for students to give. "When students move out of their residence halls, they can't take everything with them," said Szczys.

"This will provide an opportunity for students to leave perfectly useful things," said Szczys. "It should be a game changer in that regard."

Starting Feb. 6, the thrift shop will be open Tuesdays from 12 to 4 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. In addition to attracting students from 160 of Connecticut's 169 towns, Eastern also draws students from 30 states and eight countries. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 20 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2022-23 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 13 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.