The Thrifty Cat event helps nearly 500 attendees reuse residence hall essentials

University of Kentucky students reduced waste during Big Blue Move-In by participating in Thrifty’s Pop-Up, a free thrifting event. Residence hall essentials collected during the 2026 spring semester move-out were made available to students during the event hosted at the Cats Den in the Gatton Student Center. More than 490 attendees participated with 93% of collected items redistributed. 

Holly Cason, a senior pursuing a dual degree in environmental and sustainability studies from the College of Arts and Sciences and natural resources and environmental science in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, pitched the idea for the event last spring to use The Thrifty Cat, UK’s campus free store for students, as an opportunity to give these donations directly back to students. Items such as clothing, office supplies, kitchenware, furniture and textbooks, were collected and organized by The Thrifty Cat. 

“During move-out, items that many students purchase when they start college are often discarded or donated. I had the idea for this event because I wanted these items to go back to UK students, encouraging them to reuse instead of buying new for move-in,” Cason said. “After working this summer to get the event approved and set up, it was amazing to see it come to life with nearly 500 attendees participating.”  

For students, the event offered both a practical resource and a visible example of sustainability in action.  

“I think it’s really awesome and makes it so people don’t have to consume as much, and I think it’s very sustainable,” said Emily Seale, a senior double major in environmental and sustainability studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and natural resources and environmental science in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.  

Each year items like carts, bookshelves and textbooks are thrown out as students leave the residence halls. Instead of letting these essentials end up in the landfill, the student-run team at The Thrifty Cat works to give these items a chance at a second home. The items that were set aside at the end of the Spring 2026 semester were inspected and transported to Blazer Dining where Cason and staff in UK Recycling and UK Sustainability organized and prepped 1,285 pounds of donations. 

In centralizing the reuse process, students were given the opportunity to gain essentials for the school year and minimize their waste footprint.  

“My favorite part was watching attendees’ faces light up as friends shared what they found at the event. That shared look of ‘This is exactly what I needed’ while they held up a mirror or new decor was so rewarding to see,” Cason said. “The assurance that the event was free also generated real excitement for students.” 

In addition to collecting items during move-out, The Thrifty Cat receives donations through bins outside the doors of The Thrifty Cat, which is located in Room 5 of Blazer Dining. The Thrifty Cat is also able to schedule drop-off appointments for large or heavy donations. Students can shop for free throughout the semester. Check out The Thrifty Cat hours for the Fall 2026 semester. 

“I think this resource is very important for students who don’t have access to buy new stuff,” said Bruna Ramos, a sophomore majoring in aerospace engineering in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering.  

Ella Young, the new director of The Thrifty Cat, originally became involved through volunteer hours for her Accelerated Composition & Communication class. Throughout the semester, she fell in love with the mission and seeing the impact it had on students’ lives.  

“College is such an expensive time for many students, but The Thrifty Cat offers free clothes, residence hall essentials, and a fun and free activity to do with friends,” said Young, a sophomore majoring in marketing in the Gatton College of Business and Economics and also a student in Lewis Honors College. “We are always taking student volunteers to help us extend the hours The Thrifty Cat can be open. This truly is a great opportunity to get involved in something that is run by students for students.” 

The Thrifty Cat is a program run by UK Recycling, whose mission is to facilitate the waste reduction efforts of the university and to ultimately become a zero-waste campus. 

“I’m extremely proud of all the success our students continue to bring to The Thrifty Cat through their vision and passion,” said Ryan Lark, zero-waste specialist in Facilities Management. “The store offers students leadership and volunteer opportunities that can help them after graduation, provides an economic resource to students and is a great way to reduce waste on campus.”