Starting a Sustainable & Thrift Club on Campus
Ever since sophomore year, when my friend and I came up with the idea to start a thrift club while studying in my dorm room, I have been planning and organizing it's launch. Due to unforeseen circumstances, such as studying abroad for a semester during junior year, the club's formation was delayed. However, this past month, I had the opportunity to present the club to Student Senate, and it was approved. The next step is for the Student Planning Committee (SPC) to review the bylaws and overall goals of the club to grant final approval.
With so much anticipation, I have spent hours brainstorming ways to attract members, maintain engagement, and create a fun, sustainable club campus. Planned events includes workshops on sustainable practices teach, such as upcycling, and clothing swaps where students to come exchange their gently used clothes. This will allow students to refresh their wardrobes in an affordable, eco-friendly way. Charity will also be a core aspect of this club, with volunteering at local thrift stores and organizing campus-wide clothing and household drives to donate to shelters in surrounding communities. One of the events will be a tote bag decorating event, where students at Ohio Northern allowing can come paint and decorate their own reusable tote bag for everyday use, such as grocery shopping. Within the club, I hope to host fun meetings, like "show up in your favorite thrift find," a white elephant gift exchange with everyone in the club where the gifts must be second-hand or thrifted, and optional monthly thrifting trips to second-hand stores as a group.
To promote the club and gain members, social media is going to be a very important tool. As a marketing major, I will manage the club's social media, sharing fun yet informative content about upcoming meetings and on-campus events, as well as infographics promoting sustainable living and second-hand platforms to encourage everyday sustainability.
In the end, I hope this club creates an inviting space on campus for anyone passionate about shopping second-hand or, anybody who is curious about how to shop more sustainably.
This is such a good idea! Sustainability and thrifting are becoming very popular, especially in our younger generation, so I think it will be successful! And everything you are planning sounds fun, especially the tote bag decorating event! I wish you luck getting this started!
ReplyDeleteI love this! I think if I had time I would definitely love to join this club whenever it gets approved! Thrifting is one of my favorite things, and I've found so many nice business clothes and sweaters while thrifting. Painting a tote bag sounds so fun too, I hope you're able to get this going!
ReplyDeleteStarting something from an idea in your dorm room to getting approval from the Student Senate is such an accomplishment. As a marketing major, I’m sure your social media strategies will help grow the club and spread awareness about sustainable living. I wish that I had your dedication to do something like that. Best of luck with your final approval and all your exciting plans!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cute idea. I myself love to thrift so this is a club I would definitely want to join! I think this such a great way to give back to the community and have a good time well doing it. Good luck and definitely post an update about this idea.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool! Most of my own closet is thrifted and I love the idea of pushing a more sustainable lifestyle on campus! You are really opening the door to so many new ideas and concepts on campus and I respect that so much. I hope to join your club whenever meetings begin!
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