Thrift sale raises funds for Suffolk CARES pantry

The Suffolk University Performing Arts Office (PAO) and Theatre Department teamed up last week to host their annual thrift sale event in the third floor lounge of the Sawyer building.

On Oct. 23 and Oct. 24, racks of discounted clothing were set up on campus for sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. No specific fundraising goal was set, but $215 was raised and donated to the Suffolk CARES pantry.

Shirts and accessories cost $1, skirts and pants cost $2, dresses and sweaters cost $3 and gowns and coats cost $5. The affordable items were ideal for students on a tight budget, who were able to pay with either cash or their Ram card.

The Thrift Shop, previously known as the Costume Sale, began when the PAO was in the Donahue Building, which Suffolk has since sold. After the Donahue and Archer buildings were sold in 2015, the PAO and Theatre Department combined their belongings into one storage space and have been collaborating on the event since then.

All of this year’s products came from the Modern Theatre costume closet after cleaning it out this summer. The shop aimed to sell clothes that were not going to be used in future performances.

Garments of all sizes, materials and patterns were up for grabs, including a blood-stained blouse, floral dresses and corduroy pants.

“Every year, it kind of just depends what we’re digging through when we’re cleaning everything out and being like ‘oh we haven’t used this in a couple years, so we’ll toss it into the mix,’” sophomore American government major Kasey Armstrong, who was cashing out customers, said in an interview with The Suffolk Journal.

The thrift shop event helps make more room for new items and gets rid of anything outdated, while making sure the old items are not going to waste. The items that are not sold are packaged and donated to another local thrift store.

“It’s a nice way to make room for new stuff and also repurpose all of the clothes that we’re not going to have a home for any more,” Armstrong said in an interview with The Journal.

This year’s collection of clothes included a mix between niche items and attire for everyday wear. Even if students don’t buy anything, Armstrong said it’s a good opportunity to get some fashion inspiration.

“I buy stuff from [the thrift shop] every year just because it’s nice to be able to look around and get ideas for outfits,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said students usually come in searching for last minute Halloween costumes. However, this year there were many items that could be worn as everyday clothes, so students could also shop for new additions to their daily wardrobe.

Freshman undergraduate law major Ana Luiza Bernardes stopped by the thrift shop in search of a costume for Program Council’s yearly Halloween Bash at Royale last Thursday night. She was also in the market for some unique garments to wear regularly.

“They’re offering some thrifty items,” Bernardes said while peering over a table of pants and skirts. “I’m just interested in going out of my comfort zone of shopping, and finding good items.”

The proceeds have always been donated to an organization, which have included the James Nelson Scholarship Fund, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Foundation, the Stage Source Theatre Alliance, the Puppet Showplace Theatre and Theatre Community Benevolence Fund in the past.