The KAUST community’s Second Chance Thrift Shop opened for the first time on Saturday, November 30, 2019. It was the culmination of three months of planning, with over thirty volunteers joining the new community club which runs the shop. The shop’s purpose is to increase the reuse of pre-loved items at KAUST, so that they can purchased at low cost, with the proceeds contributing to KAUST’s Social Responsibility volunteer outreach programs in Thuwal.
Helen Cheney, Second Chance Community Club President says: “We embrace the importance of recycling; reduce, reuse and recycle. It’s time to change; not just the way we do things but the way we think. In addition to helping our environment, the shop is a way to help our community.”
The first opening week of the Thrift Shop has been a huge success. Not only have the community generously donated a vast array of items to sell, but there have been many happy customers visiting the shop. There was a queue waiting for the doors to open on the first day and over 4,000 SAR was taken in the first week.
There’s still three more days of opening before the winter break:
- Saturday, December 7 (2:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
- Wednesday, December 11 (10:00AM–12:00PM and 2:00PM–4:00PM)
- Saturday, December 14 (2:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
before the shop reopens in January.
For the all the latest updates, please visit the shop’s Facebook page @secondchancekaust.
Donations of items are very welcome, including books, gardening tools, electronics, toys, tools, musical instruments, baby clothes, shoes, sports equipment, accessories, decorative items… and more. Please contact the Thrift Shop for how to donate, including home collection at secondchance.kaust@gmail.com.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the establishment of the Thrift Shop. All donations of items, resources, time or expertise have been crucial to creating the positive environmental and social impact that the shop can bring to KAUST.