The UCA Christian ministry organization, Chi Alpha, hosted an event that allowed students to collect free clothes or any other items at a thrift store April 16. 

Chi Alpha staff member Colt Williams said, “With Chi Alpha, that is just part of what we do. We don’t want to just host things and have events, but we also want to give our students the opportunity to be like Christ, and give of themselves, even if it is just clothes.” 

As far as Chi Alpha exposure, that was not the main focus of the thrift store event. 

Chi Alpha staff member Victoria McCauley said, “We put a little slip in a bag to share about what we do and what our presence is on campus, but that is not what our main focus is with this event.” 

Not only did Chi Alpha provide clothes and accessories for students in need, but when they noticed they were getting low on items, students from around campus began donating to the thrift store. 

“I think some students are coming because they are realizing we are running out, so some students are actually bringing some stuff — We’ve already had a couple of guys that came over and asked how they could help, and we said that if you have something that you don’t want bring it here, so they came over and dropped off a bunch of stuff,” Williams said. 

Chi Alpha staff member Victoria McCauley said “We actually had a really big wave of people for about two hours and then got cleaned out pretty fast — We had some pretty good stuff out here, we had Nike socks that have maybe been worn twice, and when we got cleaned out pretty quick, people started to come up and asking if they could give too.” 

McCauley said, “The hope is that as you love people and take care of others, they also want to take care of people too and they are inspired by that.” 

When any student stopped by the thrift store, they could scan a QR code to donate to a program called “FeedONE”, which helps provide meals to children in need. 

“FeedONE is a ministry that we have been associated with historically, and it is to raise money to give meals to children in countries with poverty,” Williams said. 

McCauley said, “One of our core values is to take care of and love the people around us, so I think this event was an incredible opportunity to love students and to create an opportunity for people to connect and be together. A thrift store is something that we knew most students would enjoy so we wanted to give in a way that we know would be received well and we know people would enjoy.”