Students at Kelowna Secondary School (KSS) raised $1000 for the Central Okanagan Food Bank by selling clothing at a pop-up lunchtime thrift store.
Named Thrifty Thursday, the regular event saw students reduce their waste while raising money.
"Thrifty Thursday prevents textile waste, raises money for great Canadian charities and offers students a sustainable and convenient way to get clothes," said Julia Soleski, Grade 12.
"We can make a tangible difference because each piece of clothing a student brings home was diverted from needlessly filling a landfill or waterway."
The funds that went to the food bank were the first major donation from the initiative and it is expected the food bank will be able to turn that money into $3000 worth of food.
"I have always been really interested in sustainability and clothes, so I really felt that Thrifty Thursdays was a great way to get involved with both," said Olivia Lewis, Grade 10.
"I really hope that Thrifty Thursdays can grow into a more prevalent weekly event at KSS with more enthusiastic volunteers."
The students running the pop-up recently hosted students from KLO Middle School as a way to share the idea with other schools and hopefully see the program grow.
"We are deeply inspired by the KSS students' remarkable achievements with their Thrifty Thursday initiative," said RayAnn Gruza, communications coordinator at the Central Okanagan Food Bank.
"Their generous donation to our organization is a true testament to their community spirit and we are honoured to be chosen as the recipient."
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