The Eden Prairie Sustainability Commission and Eden Prairie High School’s National Honor Society invite the community for a clothing swap event on March 22, encouraging eco-friendly practices and community engagement.
The Eden Prairie Sustainability Commission, in collaboration with the Eden Prairie High School National Honor Society, is organizing a community clothing swap event on Saturday, March 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center lobby of Eden Prairie High School. This initiative invites community members to participate in an exchange of gently used clothing and shoes, promoting sustainable practices and community engagement.
Participants are encouraged to drop off their donations of clothing and shoes, which will be sorted by volunteers onto designated tables. The event is open to everyone, and no prior registration or fees are required for either contributors or those looking to shop the items available. Carolyn Wieland, a member of the Sustainability Commission, noted that attendees do not necessarily need to bring items to benefit from the event. “Anyone can come. People don’t have to bring items to participate. If someone has clothing they’d like to bring, they can stop in any time during the event. This allows a continual supply of new merchandise during the event,” she explained.
This is not the first clothing swap organized by the Commission. During last year’s inaugural event, a total of 795.5 pounds of clothing and shoes were collected, with attendees taking home 459 pounds of these items. The remaining donations were given to The PROP Shop, a local charity. Last year’s swap attracted 111 participants, a diverse group of attendees who either brought items to donate, only shopped, or participated in both activities.
Cindy Hoffman, another member of the Sustainability Commission, emphasized the broader appeal of the event. “This event is not just for our Eden Prairie residents but for everyone. It is exciting to see familiar faces from our community participating but to also find people joining the swap from other cities.”
Wieland further elaborated on the benefits of community clothing swaps, noting that these events foster eco-friendly practices by reducing landfill waste, extending the life of usable garments, and raising awareness about clothing consumption. “Community clothing swaps foster community engagement, reduce items being sent to landfill, extend the life of usable garments and clothing and increase awareness in clothing consumption,” she stated.
Newcomers to clothing swaps are encouraged to attend even if they are unsure of what to expect. Hoffman remarked, “If someone has never been to a swap, I encourage you to just stop by and see what is going on. You will find some great items for free and also feel good about supporting sustainable fashion.”
Interested individuals can direct any questions regarding the event to Carolyn Wieland or Jennifer Fierce, Eden Prairie’s sustainability coordinator.
This clothing swap event is part of an ongoing effort to promote sustainability in the local community, featured in a series titled “Sustainability in Action” supported by a grant from the Eden Prairie Community Foundation.
Source: Noah Wire Services
