Olivia SmithThe Thrifty Cat, UK’s new ‘campus free store’, started as the independent project of Olivia Smith, a UK Recycling intern through the Sustainability Internship Program.
Smith joined UK Recycling as an intern in Fall 2024. Inspired to offer a creative and long-term solution to the amount of waste generated during move-out each year, she developed a proposal for a ‘campus free store’ and surveyed student interest in the potential initiative. Her survey, and the continued interest in and growth of UK Recycling’s annual Thrift Shop Pop-Up, showed that there was a real student demand for this type of resource.
Now, the project is coming to fruition in the old – but renewed – Wildcat Wheels Bike Shop in the basement of Blazer dining.
The Thrifty Cat is now collecting donated items like clothing, dorm essentials, and school supplies and offering them back to UK students for free. By providing a resource on campus to rehome items, The Thrifty Cat will reduce landfill waste while supporting students by making their move-in and time on campus more affordable and sustainable.
A soft launch took place at the beginning of the fall semester, but the grand opening will be held on October 17 from 3-4:30 p.m. During this event, the store will be open and items available for students to take. Donation bins, music, and activities will also be available – so bring your gently-used clothes, decorations, furniture, and friends with you!
