The Marshall University Thrift Store kicked off the semester with their first of many “Free Fridays” on Jan. 19.
After their move to a more easily accessible space for students last August, incoming freshmen and many other people around campus have had the opportunity to experience the thrift store, supervisor Paige Rinschler said.
Rinschler said the thrift store is a place where students can come in and get a wide variety of items for an affordable price.
However, this service is not just limited to students, as faculty members and staff also have access to this opportunity Rinschler said.
The Marshall Thrift Store runs off of Herd Points, a type of digital currency stored in students’ and faculty’s Marshall card accounts.
Purchasing something from the Marshall Thrift Store is as easy as walking in, giving them your name and tapping your Marshall ID, cashier Brittany Morris said.
The first visit costs three Herd Points; shoppers will get a bag that they can fill with as many items as they can fit. As long as it fits and no matter how much it weighs, they get it, Morris said.
“The next time you come in, just show us that bag,” Rinschler said, “and you pay one more Herd Point, and you can refill the bag with even more items.”
Students, faculty and staff can repeat this process whenever they come in as long as they keep their bag on them.
As well as being able to purchase items from the thrift store, students and faculty can donate items they no longer need to the thrift store.
“All you have to do is come in and tell us you have a donation, and we’ll gladly take it off your hands,” Rinschler said.
They accept all types of items, taking in all clothing regardless of the size or gender of the garment. They take items such as decorations and school supplies, as well.
“We’ll take anything off your hands,” Rinschler said.
The Marshall Thrift Store runs frequent promotions and events to allow customers to get a better discount. One event is “Bring a Bag,” which Rinschler described as a cool way to have a “free little shopping trip.”
On Bring a Bag days, students and faculty can bring in a bag full of items to donate, and they can leave with a bag full of new items from the store.
They also aim to provide “Free Fridays” every month. On Free Fridays, customers can come in and keep anything that “they can get out the door,” Rinschler said.
The first of the Thrift Store’s many Free Fridays had a large turnout of students in search of clothes and other items to keep warm from the harsh winter weather.
They still have plenty of winter weather clothing options, including a dedicated closet for long sleeve shirts, jackets, blankets, socks and boots. They also have some heaters available for purchase.
Rinschler encourages any student or faculty member looking to stay warm during these formidable winter months to head to the Marshall Thrift Store for plenty of options at an affordable rate.
For more information about the Marshall Thrift Store and their promotional events, follow their Instagram, Facebook and newly-created TikTok at Marshall University Sustainability.
