Support the Eco Fund and Help Green Campus Open a Thrift Store!

For the past three years, students from Cal Poly Green Campus (an 18-year-running sustainability-focused student group) have been advocating for the creation of an on-campus thrift store, which would serve as a low or no-cost marketplace where students can receive previously-owned essential items like school supplies, furniture, clothing, and other household items. Though there has been widespread support among students and employees alike, the primary roadblock has been a lack of space to put the storefront.

This summer, the Green Campus Team was generously offered ~400 sq. ft. of space on campus, free of charge. Now, we just need your help to raise money for the Eco Fund, which we will use to purchase the items we need to transform the open warehouse into a cozy and inclusive space for all students to enjoy and find what they need.

There are numerous benefits of having an on-campus Thrift Store at Cal Poly, but here are just a few:

1. Save students money. Currently, students have only a few options to purchase supplies needed for everyday living. Because Cal Poly is in a relatively rural area, there is a lack of affordable thrift stores for students to shop at. Oftentimes, necessary items can only be found at big-box stores like Target or Walmart, and there are significant costs to students when purchasing new items from these stores. The creation of an on-campus thrift store would allow students to get the items they need at no cost, potentially saving each student hundreds of dollars.

2. Increase access. Cal Poly is a growing campus, and soon it will require all first- and second-year students to live on campus, which will reduce the impact on the city’s housing. Students residing on campus might not have access to a car or a vehicle, making getting around town to shop more difficult. An on-campus thrift store will allow student residents to easily access items they need for everyday living, without having to leave campus. 

3. Conserve natural resources. When we purchase new items, there are environmental processes required to extract the raw materials needed: mining, logging, and oil drilling, to name a few. There are also greenhouse gas effects associated with the manufacturing of new products. Opting for items that are already in circulation reduces environmental impact and contributes to a circular economy. 

4. Reduce landfill waste. Every year during move-out, Cal Poly collects thousands of pounds of items that are thrown out by students who no longer need them. While there are current efforts in place to divert these items from the landfill during move-out, the Thrift Store would allow us to greatly expand these efforts and provide a year-round option for students to donate unwanted items.  

With over 700 student signatures supporting this initiative, it’s clear that students see the benefit of an on-campus thrift store. Now that we have space, we are in need of supplies to get our storefront set up. 

Please support the Eco Fund and Cal Poly Green Campus in finally making this a reality!