Amid the flurry of back-to-school changes and the ever-changing school environment, one club has emerged as a potential mainstay.
The Recycled Fashion Club, which was founded last January by then-sophomore Katelyn Smith, has returned. The RFC aims to repurpose used clothing and fabrics into pillows and blankets, which will be donated to Oasis Women’s Center and Saint Martha’s, a domestic violence shelter.
In creating the club, Smith wanted to support organizations that are often overlooked by other school charity drives and clubs.
“No one was really looking into the women’s shelters and domestic abuse shelters,” Smith said. “So, I decided to aim my club towards helping them.”
Smith serves as club president and is assisted by junior Lillian Grave, who serves as the club’s vice president. Grave was directly recruited by Smith and was eager to support the RFC as she trusted Smith to lead the club well.
“… I went really far into it,” Grave said. “… I knew [Smith] would take it the right way and do the right thing.”
Smith also recruited art teacher Cassie Flynn to serve as the RFC’s sponsor. Mrs. Flynn, already the sponsor of the Art Club, provides feedback for Smith’s ideas.
“I support any artistic efforts,” Mrs. Flynn said.
The club quickly expanded, growing to 14 members before the end of the last school year. However, after finals and summer vacation, membership dwindled to just Smith and Grave.
“It was tough for us,” Grave said. “We were working to try to keep getting stuff out, but it’s not the same as having a whole system of people.”
Still, Smith remains optimistic that the RFC can grow and produce enough supplies to help those in need.
“I’m hoping to have over 30 members and at least 15 [at] every meeting, but that is a very high goal,” Smith said. “For our production, I would like to see 50 to 60 [pillows and blankets].”
The RFC hosted a donation drive last year and received a large amount of support from both students and faculty.
“The student body really helped out, especially the teachers,” Smith said. “We had several teachers that donated huge trash bags of clothing … we were pretty secure.”
Smith and Grave aim to promote active involvement within the club, which means responsibilities will not fall on officers alone.
“… in the Recycled Fashion Club, everyone does something, everyone has their part and it’s not just leadership who is doing the work,” Smith said.
Even after Smith and Grave graduate, they hope that the club’s work will not rest solely on the RFC’s leaders.
“I would like to still think that there would be 10 to 15 people showing up, wanting to help, wanting to contribute,” Smith said. “I hope that we can keep it alive enough that other people can come forward.”
