News & Events

The fashion industry takes an immense toll on the environment, according to scientific reports, wasting and toxifying clean water, releasing billions of tons of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, and filling landfills to the brim with unused textiles.

To spread awareness and effect change, the Upper School Outdoors Club recently organized a pop-up thrift store.

The concept behind the pop-up was simple. Throughout the week leading up to the event, the club collected clothing donations in the Middle and Upper schools, asking donors to write their names on their bags. Before the event, club members counted and translated the items into points that the donors could use to purchase clothing from the store.

However, students who did not donate could still come, able to buy clothes with cash instead. Items ranged from $1 to $5, and with this system, the club raised $80 for the Oyster Reef Keepers of Virginia, a nonprofit organization run by Lower School science teacher Laurie Sorabella that engages teachers and students in raising, researching, and transplanting oysters to sanctuary reefs.

“I love the pop-up thrift store because it promotes sustainable practices of reusing clothing, all while being a fun way to bring the community together and save the planet,” Audrey Permenter ‘23 said. “Also, donating all of the money made to the Oyster Reef Keepers of Virginia so it can better help our planet combat water quality and pollution issues is a great addition to the exciting community event.”

Afterwards, members of the Outdoors Club sorted the excess clothing by age range for distribution to migrant children on the Eastern Shore at the next Dos Santos food pantry.

Events like this do more than just unite the school community; their impacts are felt on a much broader scope. Club members hope that, for years to come, the pop-up thrift store will represent the school’s initiative and commitment to making a difference.

Article written by communications department intern Annabelle Dyer '23. Photos by communications department intern Shunmei Zheng '23.