Written by Josephine Grey, Staff Writer
Riverside Polytechnic’s Key Club International, a student organization focused on community service, gives back through affordable clothing.
On Friday, October 2, 2026, Riverside Poly’s Key Club held its fourth annual thrift store pop-up to give back. The event was organized as a way to grant individuals with an opportunity to find new pieces of fashion. Instead of letting unwanted clothes sit in the back of a closet, donators could give them a second life by passing them on to someone else.
Clothing collection started the weekend prior to the thrift store pop-up with a clothing drive. The clothing drive allowed people to drop off clothes free of charge, taking the burden of unwanted clutter off their shoulders. Key Club members collected, sorted, and organized gently used and unwanted clothing from people in the community.
In addition to providing clothes, the thrift store pop-up brought students together and promoted the idea that service comes in many forms, including simple acts like dropping off clothes no longer needed to reduce waste. For fundraising, students paid a $1 charge at the door and were then allowed to grab as many clothes as they wanted. This charge was affordable and helped support Key Club’s ongoing campaign to assist the community.
Riverside Poly’s Key Club Vice President, Victoria Hernandez, was asked, “In what ways do you think a thrift store pop-up is a meaningful way to give back?”
Victoria responded, “I think the thrift store pop-up is a meaningful way to give back to the Poly community, as it gives our students a resource to get as many clothes as they need for a very affordable price. At a $1 entry, it allows the club to not only fundraise but to give many students the opportunity to stop by the store and grab clothes.”
Many items were donated in pristine condition: suits still in plastic wrap, clothes freshly washed, and many items still paired with original store tags. Affordability was not a worry for pop-up attendees as people from all incomes were able to find clothes for them. In the words of Key Club’s advisor, Paula Showalter, “the event was a great success.”
Behind the scenes, Key Club members played an important role in making the event possible. Members helped collect donations, sort through clothing, organize the racks, and prepare the area for students to shop. Although the event lasted only a short time, the preparation behind it allowed the pop-up to run smoothly and ensured the donated clothing was properly displayed.
The thrift store pop-up also highlighted the importance of reusing clothing instead of immediately throwing it away. Clothing that may no longer be useful to one person could become valuable to another. By encouraging students to donate and reuse clothing, Key Club combined community service with an environmentally friendly effort.
As the fourth annual thrift store pop-up, the event continues to demonstrate the impact that Key Club can have within the Riverside Poly community. From the clothing drive to the final day of the pop-up, students, staff, and community members helped make the event possible. Through simple donations and participation, the Key Club turned unwanted clothing into an opportunity to give back, proving that service can start with something as simple as an item sitting unused in a closet.
Key Club hopes to continue giving back with events like this. There will be an additional pop-up in Winter, and another in Spring. As the school year continues, Key Club plans to use these events to bring students together, support the community, and continue its mission of giving back.