In a fundraising effort for humanitarian aid in Gaza, the Human Rights Club hosted a second-hand clothing sale in the Padre Rubio Hall patio using student donations from last semester.
The event, which was held from 1 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, charged buyers €1, €2, €3, €5, €8 or €10 for brands such as Zara, Nike, Levi’s and Pull&Bear. Students were encouraged by club leaders to dig through the clothes, which were stacked haphazardly on fold-out tables, “Goodwill bins style,” where clothes are typically laid out with no particular order.
“It was really chaotic,” said Tenatic Gonzalez Hernandez, a second-year marketing major from Mexico. “I had to poke around a bit, but I found something I really liked.”
Victoria Flores, club president and political science major from Los Angeles, mentioned that while the sale was hosted once before, things have changed since last fall.
“I do think we have a lot more donations this time,” Flores said. “We had eight to nine boxes, which is insane.”
Throughout the school year, the Human Rights Club hosts multiple fundraisers for a variety of charities, whether local or international. However, with this sale’s profits going to aid in Palestine, Flores noted that many students might feel closer to the cause.
“We are a very international campus, so it hits close to home for a lot of us,” Flores said. “We’ve gotten a little bit of pushback…but [the money] is fully going to go to people in Palestine and Gaza.”
Caroline Fields, the Human Right Club’s vice president, reported that the sale raised €310 for Gaza. Based on the turnout and profit, the event has been considered a success by the club, especially because it was planned at the last minute.
While Flores acknowledges that “there’s definitely room to grow” regarding the sale’s logistical aspects, the club hopes to begin hosting the event every semester to raise money for different humanitarian causes.
