Free store open to all students at Shaler Area High School

Editor’s note: The following story was submitted for the Shaler Area Student Section, a collaboration between TribLive and The Oracle, the student newspaper of Shaler Area High School.

Every year, more than 92 million tons of textile waste are pushed into global landfills.

This number is projected to increase to almost 134 million tons by 2030.

But despite all the products that people mindlessly dispose of, many still struggle to get the things they need or want.

Mindful of the increasing popularity of thrifting culture, Shaler Area High School staff members Catlyn DiPasquale and LeeAnn Guido developed a solution to help combat this problem on a local level.

The Titan Community Collective is the newest addition to the ever-expanding high school library.

The store will be located in the former podcasting location, which has been relocated to a larger room in the library. The Community Collective is a place where students can shop for free for clothes, hygiene products and other things. Previously, in order for students to receive such items, they needed to go through a social worker and make an appointment.

“There’s some stigma behind asking for help, or needing help sometimes, no matter what the reason. Maybe it’s something quick, just for right now, or maybe it’s something long term with your family at home. Who knows? The store is open to everyone,” DiPasquale said.

There are no requirements or restrictions for who can take advantage of the offers provided by the Community Collective. There is no paperwork to fill out, no specific need necessary, and anyone and everyone is entitled to the items in the free store.

The Titan Community Collective is possible because of donations from companies and members of the Shaler Area community. Businesses such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and Burlington Coat Factory have donated unused merchandise to the store. There also are gently used items as well: everything from backpacks and school supplies to hygiene products to clothing — both dressy and casual.

Space in the store is limited and needs are always shifting. In the winter, the store may be searching for jackets and hoodies, whereas in May they may be accepting formal dresses and pants. Monetary donations will be accepted year-round.

An additional feature to the Community Collective is the ability for students to make a request. Students will be able to scan a QR code found throughout the high school and answer a question regarding the merchandise provided in the store. The Community Collective may use grant money and monetary donations to purchase specifically requested items.

“This used to be an office space; it was a librarian’s office. I wrote a couple grants, and we got some grant money. We painted the walls. We bought some hangers and some organizing things. So it came together pretty quickly. We tried to repurpose a lot of things. That’s kind of how it came together. There are other schools in the area that have a free school. So I reached out to them. They gave me some tips, and (it) just sort of came together pretty easily,” DiPasquale said.

Volunteers will be important for the success of the project, as teenagers will provide helpful input on what should or shouldn’t be included in the store. While the store doesn’t need supervision, items need to be tagged and organized, and donations need to be sorted. Students who are interested in volunteering eventually will be able to fill out a questionnaire regarding their availability and other qualifications.

If an item is taken from the store but doesn’t fit or work, students can return it. The store strives to be a sustainable effort to keep quality items away from landfills and put them in the hands of people who can use them. Students can request a specific size using the QR code, and someone else may find enjoyment in the returned item.

“Maybe you’re looking for basketball shoes because you tried out for the basketball team, and we don’t have your size and you don’t have the means to get them, so you can scan this QR code and it’s a discreet way to request stuff,” DiPasquale said. “You don’t want it? Bring it back. Put it in a donation pile. We’ll take it back. It could be something that you would wear once, and then you could bring that back for somebody else to use. So not like a formal return process, but you could just redonate it.”

When students take an item, they should rip off the tag from the item and place it in the bin for removed items. This way, it can be documented what is most popular and what the store should seek out or purchase more of.

“We want to know what students want and what students need. So all we ask is that students tear off the tag and leave it in a basket by the door. So we know this item has been taken,” DiPasquale said.

The Titan Community Collective is expected to open in early October and will be open whenever the library is open.

DiPasquale has high hopes for the store becoming an impactful addition to the school.

“Obviously, our library is changing and our library is becoming a lot of things. More than just a traditional library, right? We have the cafe, the podcasting space. I’m hoping kids just come, pop in, whether it’s needed or whether it’s just because they want a Titan shirt for the football game on Friday. There’s no questions asked. I hope it only gets bigger and better,” she said.