Mt. SAC’s Basic Needs Resources held its annual Thrift N’ Thrive event on Wednesday, April 17, where students from all walks of life found support through mutual aid.

Thrift N’ Thrive is a student-led, no-cost thrift market started by former Mt. SAC students to help those in need. The event started in 2018 and has been held almost every year since.

The market opened at 1 p.m. and closed at 4 p.m. with nearly 300 students attending throughout the day.

Vivian Hernandez, the project program coordinator for Basic Needs Resources, helped organize the event for students in need.

“This truly means to me that our students no longer survive in their education,” Hernandez said. “We provide them the opportunity for them to thrive in education.”

Upon completing their shopping, students were encouraged to go up to booths that offer aid for students in need. Both Mt. SAC’s Money Management Center and CalFresh, a nutrition assistance program that helps low-income individuals, were present to steer students toward a better future.

Students who attended the event could grab a free sandwich at the end of their visit.

The student-led, free thrift store was co-founded by Alicia Trujillo, a Mt. SAC alum, who is now a basic needs support employee on campus. Trujillo explained the impact this event can have on a student in need.

“It’s really important – this is my baby and it started off in 2018 when I was a student here,” Trujillo said. “Clothing is something that [students] don’t have to worry about if they get to pick out some items here.”

Second-year nursing student Chia Akabilo praised the event’s positive environment and welcoming atmosphere.

“I really love this event.” Akabilo said. “I heard the music and I was attracted by the vibes and I feel like it’s really nice that they’re giving an opportunity for people to just look at clothes.”

The event successfully connected students in need with resources to support their education and life in general.

Mt. SAC’s Basic Needs Resources advertises events just like Thrift N’ Thrive via their Instagram. In addition to offering a variety of services, the organization also provides essential assistance to students and a pipeline to other organizations on campus that offer help.