Formal wear thrift shop takes off
The Formal Wear Thrift Shop at the Brisbane Water Secondary College Woy Woy campus was a shining example of community spirit on the Peninsula, according to campus principal Ms Rebecca Cooper.
Originally an initiative of campus staff to help Year 12 students pick up a free suit or dress for their upcoming formal, Ms Cooper said the thrift shop grew into a project for the entire school community.
The project grew after social media posts about the thrift shop gained support from the local business community and donations from businesses and community members began pouring in.
"The community's generosity was amazing.
"We had over 1000 items donated and we had so many kids come through and pickup not just a suit or dress but an entire outfit for the formal," Ms Cooper said.
"The venture proved so popular that staff members ended up heading out and about in the community to pick up donations and we even ended up expanding the shop to also run on the following Monday," she said.
"There was so much donated and not just the big ticket items like suits and dresses.
"We had businesses donating dress shirts, formal shoes, jewellery, ties, cufflinks, hand bags and vouchers for formal hair styling and makeup.
"It was incredible, and it wasn't just last season stuff or clearance items but brand new, current season fashion pieces in a range of sizes and styles.
"Everything the kids needed for the formal was available, even socks," Ms Cooper said.
The thrift shop proved so successful that staff ended up opening it up to Year 10 students for their formal and to business studies students looking to pick up some formal wear for their course interviews.
Ms Cooper said staff had now resolved to make the thrift shop permanent and the school was now planning how it could be expanded next year.
Ms Cooper said the success of the thrift shop showed how good the community on the Peninsula can be.
"Honestly there's no better feeling than seeing your community shine so bright.
"Our school, business and wider community all came together to look after this and every single donation mattered."
The Year 12 formal will be held on November 14.
SOURCE:
Interview (Dilon Luke), 25 Sep 2019
Rebecca Cooper, BWSC Woy Woy