Women in Natural Resources hosted a thrift fundraiser in Speakers Circle on Tuesday, Sept. 19. Clothing and other items displayed were donated by club members and Columbia residents.
Students gather around tables, racks and boxes filled with clothes in Speakers Circle. For just a few dollars, students can buy clothing items that were donated to the Women in Natural Resources thrift fundraiser. This fundraiser helps fund the Women in Natural Resources organization and helps keep perfectly good clothes out of landfill.
Freshman Rachel Trotsky organizes clothes for the Women in Natural Resources thrift shop fundraiser on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 at Speakers Circle in Columbia, Mo. Members donated their time beforehand by collecting clothing donations, promoting the event, sorting, folding and selling clothes. “I love thrifting honestly,” Trotsky said. “I always go thrifting and I think this is a good way to meet more people in the club.” Students search through clothes at the Women in Natural Resources thrift shop fundraiser. Members reached out to friends and the community to donate clothes for the fundraiser. “Our biggest hope is just keeping stuff out of the landfill,” WNR President Alex Kalisz said. “We hope to support people in our organization, that’s why we’re setting up a fund to pay for conferences and stuff but we also just wanna keep clothes distant from the landfill.” Sophomore Carly Black looks through clothes at the Women in Natural Resources thrift shop fundraiser. WNR has held thrift fundraisers each semester since the start of their organization in February 2021. “We figured [this fundraiser] would be a good way to be sustainable,” WNR President Alex Kalisz said. “We keep clothes insulated in the Mizzou community so it’s one more step before it gets donated somewhere and donated somewhere else and then in the landfill.” Students browse the clothing racks at the Women in Natural Resources thrift shop fundraiser. “We’re an organization committed to creating a diverse, educational, social and professional space for women in the field of natural resources and adjacent,” WNR President Alex Kalisz said. Senior Brianna Connell (right), and freshman Rachel Trotsky (left) look for unique pieces for a costume party while volunteering at the Women in Natural Resources thrift shop fundraiser held on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at Speakers Circle in Columbia, Mo.Sophomore India Williams (middle) discusses with other members about how this fundraiser creates opportunities for the club to grow in the future. “I feel like being a part of this group is a great way to be a part of the community,” Williams said. “I feel like most of all, just being around all these other amazing women just makes me desire to be like them.” Attendees of the fundraiser have many pieces to look through including sweatshirts, blouses, shorts, shoes, graphic tees, jewelry and other items donated by Women in Natural Resources members and Columbia residents. Freshmen Lexi Manthe and Ava Paoletti decide what to pair with jeans they found in order to create an outfit for the fall season. “I love to thrift,” Manthe said. “When I see something like this on campus I’m immediately drawn to it.”
Visuals Edited by Michael Baniewicz | mbaniewicz@themaneater.com
