New on-campus thrift store supports sustainability, affordability

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Aishi Dhar Puja walked through the lobby of Western Michigan University’s Office for Sustainability with arms full of home decor and a huge smile on her face. 

“I got some plants, some spoons, a stapler, a notebook, and I got a canvas painting. I used to paint back in my country and having this art will be so nice in my space,” says Puja, an applied economics master’s student from Bangladesh. “I can’t believe all this was free!”  

The Office for Sustainability’s new Sustainable Housing Equipment (S.H.E.) Shed is now open, giving Western students the opportunity to pick up new and gently used household items—from microwaves and mini fridges to kitchen tables, art and school supplies—free of charge.  

“Students succeed when we support them holistically. And their home environment is going to impact them and their mental health, which then impacts their academics and their success here at Western,” says Maddie Christians, B.F.A.’23, M.A.’25, who spearheaded the initiative. “With S.H.E. Shed, we’re saving waste from the landfill, we’re supporting our students and, at the end of the day, that’s going to help them succeed while they are here and hopefully make them feel more whole and fulfilled.” 

“It really is a triple win,” adds Jeff Spoelstra, director of the Office for Sustainability. “It’s also really rewarding to see a student-led effort really take off.” 

Student-led initiative 

Christians first thought of the idea for the S.H.E. Shed when she was working as an undergraduate student graphic designer in the Office for Sustainability. 

“I lived in an apartment complex and saw how much waste was generated during move out. The big dumpsters are just overflowing with stuff that people throw away. And a lot of it is in really good condition, so I would just start taking things. Even if I didn’t need it, someone I knew might want it,” she says. “Then I started talking to people about how we could take those items and turn them into donations to give back to students. It’s really one of the big reasons I stayed at Western for my master’s degree. I wanted to see this come to fruition because I really believe in the potential it has to impact students.” 

Christians got to work alongside two other students, running their ideas through Starting Gate, a yearlong business accelerator program within Haworth College of Business that offers students resources and guidance to develop startup companies. 

“We actually did the program for two years, developing our business model, creating our identity and branding and deciding what our marketing and business plans were. We established our mission, values and goals,” she says. “We also had the opportunity to network and get a lot of external support from the community.” 

As a master’s student in Western’s higher education and student affairs program, Christians also incorporated S.H.E. Shed into her assessment course, conducting a campuswide survey to get feedback and continue to evolve her business concept. She also received a Student Sustainability Grant to support her efforts. 

“I haven’t stopped thinking about this for the last two years; it’s found its way into almost every aspect of what I’ve been doing,” says Christians. “Now we have data we can use to keep building and shaping this program. And staff at the Office for Sustainability have been with me every step of the way, listening to me and supporting me.” 

The S.H.E. Shed adds to the robust catalog of resources and programs to ensure Western students are supported holistically so they can thrive Montgomery Essential Needs is also home to initiatives such as the Bronco Food Pantry, which is stocked with food items and personal care products; Student Emergency Relief Fund, which provides financial assistance; Books for Broncos, which helps students access course materials and textbooks; Student Health Assistance Fund, which helps cover unforseen medical expenses; and Broncos. Period., which provides free menstrual products. 

Visiting the S.H.E. Shed 

The S.H.E. Shed will be open for donations and thrifting during fall semester at the following times: