The MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center drummed up a crowd for its second Student Thrift Day on Wednesday. Both this year and last, the surplus store utilized the clothes that had been left for donation during student residence hall move-outs the previous semester. Thrift Day allows students to sort through dozens of bins of clothes in the parking lot of the Surplus Store for $2 a pound.
“We felt it's best to offer (the clothes) back up to the students to kind of keep that circulating,” Surplus Store and Recycling Center Education Coordinator Katie Deska Radigan said. “We know those are going to be clothes that (students) are going to find appealing, most likely. We wanted to host (the event) at the beginning of the school year when the weather was nice. It is a great way for students to learn about the Surplus Store, which is the campus thrift store. We want to show students: here's a place you can come for affordable things that are essential, and then just a fun day of thrifting right here on campus, you don't have to drive anywhere. It's a Spartan kind of pride point.”
Staff and student workers at the Surplus Store have been preparing for the event as the semester has gone on. Student workers in the clothing department did intake from the move-out donations, then stored them in large bins they call hampers, which were moved to a large semi-trailer parked in the store’s diversion yard. This past week, staff worked to check and consolidate all the items, and they wheeled the hampers out to their parking lot on Wednesday morning for students to dig through.
Getting to the bins right when the event started still wasn’t early enough for human biology freshman Morgan Murrell.
“Yeah, I definitely would (come to another surplus event),” Murrell said. “I got here, not late, but right at 10. I think I would just come earlier next time, maybe, like, 9:30, so I can actually get into the bins earlier.”
Despite the crowds of people making it hard to search, Murrell was able to find clothes she liked for herself and her roommate.
“I got some going-out tops,” Murrell said. “I got a decent amount of stuff for me and (my roommate). And that's kind of what I came for. I just like how unpredictable (thrifting) is. I feel like sometimes you can find some really, really good stuff. Other times, it's not as great, but I feel that’s what makes it pretty fun.”
Last year’s Student Thrift Day 92% of attendees were first-time visitors to the Surplus Store, and the event helped to re-home 3,622 pounds of clothing.
“We hosted it last year, and it was a big hit–we had at least 750 people actually purchase clothes,” Deska Radigan said. “I think people tend to enjoy the hunt of thrift shopping. It's kind of different when you're not just flipping through hangers on a rack, when you're literally digging through the bins, because you're really seeing the quantity of what we get just from the one source during student move out, and you never know what you're going to find.”
A large event like this at the beginning of the year helps new and even returning students learn about the surplus store.
“I hope that (students) just enjoy themselves,” Deska Radigan said. “And I hope that they are kind of inspired to come back in and spend some more time with us, either at Student Upcycle or at one of our next events. We just like seeing some familiar faces; it's been cool to see some people already that we know from past events.”
Even in her short time on campus, communications leadership and strategy freshman Charisma Holly said she comes to the surplus store regularly.
“Usually on Fridays, there are a few (people),” Holly said. “But, I wasn't expecting such a really good turnout. Now that I am here and I see how many people knew about the event and how many people were excited about it, I'm kind of surprised. I think it's really good, I'm excited to see what the Surplus Store does next.”
Students thrifting at the Surplus Store can also tap into their creativity at Spartan Upcycle, the creative reuse branch of the Surplus and Recycling Center. Both Upcycle and the Surplus Store highlight reuse and sustainability, which typically is a big draw to thrifters like Holly.
“What I enjoy about thrifting is definitely the creativity,” Holly said. “When I see things that I know have value and that can be upcycled, I feel good about helping the environment around me and about tapping into my creative side as well as being around other people who are also sharing ideas and exploring their creativity. I just think it's a great thing to do.”
Spartan Upcycle holds weekly events on Fridays where students can go for different guided projects or use materials as they choose. Some of the Surplus Store’s upcoming events will be Fall Fest, a clothing swap where students can trade clothes with other students, tours of the recycling center and more.
