This December marks the start of Cardozo’s yearly Swap & Shop, a school community-build thrift shop, where staff and students bring in gently used items to trade in or simply donate.
This type of thrifting creates riches out of old, useless stuff that people have lying around their homes This store has a wide variety of unique items, such as clothing ranging from winter jackets to hoodies, T-shirts to baby garments, accessories, and shoes.
Ms. Kalish, a retired Spanish teacher, has been organizing this event every year for the past 20 years and developed the idea on her own. When she worked at Cardozo, she was actively associated with Cardozo’s environmental club and still has a strong interest in environmental concerns.
The retired teacher believed it would be nice if people shared their stuff more, and it would be an opportunity for people to feel good about sharing, and not worry about getting rid of their stuff.
“They have things in their closets, cabinets, drawers and shelves that they only have because they don’t want it to be garbage,” she explained.
Before she retired, Ms. Kalish organized the Swap & Shop either in the teacher’s cafeteria or the gym, all while still teaching her students. She added on saying, “It was a little challenging to have an event and have them all come there and try to teach students while other people are swapping & shopping.”
However, now that she is retired, she can open her annual store with greater flexibility. Ms. Kalish begins planning and preparing for the annual thrift store with the assistance of members of the Key Club and Environmental Club.
Isis Irizarry, a Cardozo junior and a proud Swap & Shop customer, has mostly spent her money on the store’s items. “Swap n Shop is actually a really cute idea,” she exclaimed . “Sometimes you have to search a lot, but once you find what you’re looking for, it’s well worth the effort. Because you might find something, it’s especially useful for people looking for something inexpensive or just for fun.”
Valeria De Los Santos, another Cardozo junior expressed, “There are a lot of hidden treasures at Swap & Shop, which is why I truly enjoyed it. My buddies and I always go there just to shop around. For my friends and myself, I brought a gorgeous brown sweater and adorable gold flower earrings.”
Not every item at the Swap & Shop that is donated goes to new homes, though. With the extra items from the store, Ms. Kalish donates them to a Long Island thrift store.
The Swap & Shop revenues go towards the school’s financing and charities like helping to give food to those in need.
When asked if she wants to still continue Swap & Shop in the future, Ms. Kalish commented, “I really help a lot, and this is my outlet. So, I don’t have any plans to stop the swapping shop.”
With that, Cardozo staff and students can plan on seeing more of the Swap & Shop for years to come.
