“This way, you avoid ending up with a bunch of items you spent money on, never used and now have to either donate or lug back home at the end of the year.”
As the sustainability manager for outreach and engagement at UVA, Garner oversees about 20 student interns who work on creating and promoting environmentally conscious initiatives across Grounds.
One such initiative is the Green Your Dorm event, which educates first-year students on incorporating sustainable habits – like washing clothes in cold water – into their daily routines, helping them adjust to living independently.
One often-overlooked sustainability habit is shopping secondhand for dorm necessities and decorations.
“It is always kind of jarring to see the amount of basically new furniture pieces left by the dumpsters at the end of the school year because students can’t take them home or don’t have access to a donation location,” Garner said. “Buying secondhand is great because you’re able to give that item a second life.”
Why Shop Secondhand?
Garner says secondhand shopping is a “win-win-win solution.”
“From a sustainability perspective, you’re giving items a second life and keeping them out of the landfill,” she explains. “Financially, secondhand goods are almost always significantly cheaper than buying new.”
According to Garner, the final “win” is the opportunity to support small businesses, particularly those in the Charlottesville community.
Taking a little extra time and care when shopping for dorm decorations and necessities can make a big difference. Here are some options for sourcing secondhand items on a budget.
Student-Run Group Chats
Social media is an excellent way to connect with fellow students selling items at affordable prices.
One popular GroupMe chat, “Things for the Low,” has around 4,000 members, most of whom are UVA students buying and selling goods. Whether you’re looking for furniture, clothing, room decorations or textbooks, you can likely find what you need in this group. If you’re searching for something specific, send a message to inquire about it.
When you find something you want, message the seller to arrange a time and place to pick it up. For safety, verify the seller’s identity through UVA People Search and bring a friend to the meet-up, ideally somewhere on Grounds.
Looking for dorm essentials from fellow students reduces waste and saves you money. To prevent hackers from joining these groups, ask your resident adviser for the link to these chats when you arrive on Grounds.
Secondhand Stores in Charlottesville
If you can’t find what you need through crowdsourcing, Charlottesville is home to several secondhand stores and consignment boutiques, which are accessible by foot or by taking a Charlottesville Area Transit bus.
Twice Is Nice is a nonprofit resale boutique that offers gently used furniture, clothing, jewelry, and home goods for a fraction of the original price. Most of the employees are volunteers, and the proceeds go toward supporting the quality of life for Charlottesville community seniors.
Twice Is Nice is located on Preston Avenue, across from the Dairy Market. For more inventory, do not forget to check out Twice Is Nice II, which is also located across the street.
Vintage stores like Arsenic and Old Lace, Neon Soul, and Low are located on the Downtown Mall, accessible by walking or taking the CAT trolley. These stores offer older, reused clothing, accessories, and furniture, but they tend to be a bit pricier.
“My personal favorite is the Habitat for Humanity,” Garner said. Located on Harris Street, the Habitat Store sells furniture and home décor at discount prices.
UVA’s ReUSE Store
Located at 580 McCormick Rd., the ReUSE Store is a collection of surplus property – unclaimed or abandoned items, regardless of age and condition – from the University, some of which could be useful in student living spaces.
“I’ve seen paintings, plants and a bunch of different things for sale,” said fourth-year Aliza Diop, one of the interns in the Office for Sustainability. Anyone can purchase items from the ReUSE Store at a reduced price.
While you are not guaranteed to find the items you need by checking the ReUSE Store, starting there before shopping at a big box store is helpful and a commitment to a more sustainable lifestyle.
Students can attend the Green Your Dorm event on Aug. 30 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Student Garden, located on the corner of Alderman and McCormick roads, to learn more about creating a more sustainable dorm environment.
