On April 30th, 2022, the La Mesa Sunrise, La Mesa Noon, and El Cajon Rotary Clubs joined forces with students at Crawford High School to outfit a storage container that will become the Crawford Colts Thrift Store. La Mesa Sunrise provided funding for clothing racks, tables, and paint to give the thrift store a strong start.
Students at Crawford High School have been planning to start a student-run thrift store since the beginning of the pandemic. Now that restrictions are lifting, they are finally able to realize their dreams. Dalicia, a junior at Crawford, remembers how she was able to get inexpensive used clothing when she first arrived in the United States after immigrating from Africa. She, as well as many other high school students, enjoy the thrill of the hunt when they go "thrifting" at local resale shops. Now they can shop at their own school where each item will cost only one dollar.Dalicia will serve as the president of the newly formed club, "Colts Thrift". She has recruited a team to help run the store with a Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Social Media Secretary. The goal of the club is to provide a fun way to recycle clothing, earn money for school events, and build community. Many students have already reached out to ask how they can donate clothing. The thrift store is also supported by the CCC (Crawford Community Connections) which provides resources to families in the City Heights area. The CCC will have access to the thrift store in order to help families and students in need.
Students are still formulating their business plan with the support of Elena Lujan-Alba, an LMSR Rotarian and Teacher at Crawford High School. Students will have to create press releases, social media posts, and collect and analyze data to run their store efficiently. A grand opening is planned for the second week in May.