Wheaton Wire

Issue date: 3/10/10 Section: Features

Media Credit: Ellen Goggins '12 / Photo Editor A box in Clark sits out for Wheaton students to donate clothes that will go to Haiti , as well as a women's shelter nearby.

That piece of clothing which has been banished to the darkest realms of one's closet (read: Nana's sweater) need not abandon hope. A new life awaits it in the wardrobe of another, more-hipster-than-thou Wheaton College student.

In preparation for March 24, the YMCA Hall Staff has placed various donation boxes around campus, imploring students to donate unwanted clothing for the Wheaton Thrift event.

The whole operation is run by the YMCA resident assistants who come together for weekly meetings. They are also responsible for periodically picking up the donation boxes and the multitude of signs which adorn Balfour. Moreover, door-to-door collecting campaigns will soon begin to take over the hallways, if they have not already. The determination of these students is evident and it can be deduced that they will collect with the relentlessness of a Jehovah's Witness (although with a much less aggravating demeanor). It is a noteworthy example of Wheaton students uniting towards a common goal, as all of the proceeds will be donated to a Haiti relief fund, "probably the Red Cross," and leftover clothing will go to a women's shelter nearby.

Although each of the resident advisors is responsible for organizing floor events, Emily Anderson'11 states that this is the "first big quad event" they have organized and virtually unprecedented; some points still need to be ironed out, such as the pricing system. As of yet, the organizers are unsure of how the value of items of clothing will be determined. According to Anderson, shirts will be displayed on tables, while pants and skirts will probably hang from racks.

The tremendous initiative and the efforts behind this event culminate on the March 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in a gesture to help Haiti. When asked why Haiti specifically was chosen, especially in light of recent trauma in Chile, Anderson replied that it is "a widely known cause" and therefore, "easier to donate to." Regardless of the cause the to which proceeds are donate, the initiative taken by students is remarkable and reveals a dedication to the world outside of the Wheaton Bubble.

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