BY: JULIA BEARDSLEY, STAFF WRITER
With Francis Week 2026 underway, many free events and opportunities are taking place inside and surrounding the Franciscan center for social concern. One of which was a pop-up display of Clare’s Closet.
Clare’s Closet is a mainly student-run initiative as a part of the Franciscan Justice Circle. Members of the justice circle were inspired by a free clothing exchange program at Dickinson College, which has a similar campus size and student population as St. Bonaventure.
Members like Alexis Serio, a senior faith and social justice double major with Spanish, wanted to help promote and spread awareness on sustainability on St. Bonaventure’s campus.
Clare’s Closet was created to give students an opportunity to not only educate themselves on the importance of sustainability, but also to be able to reap the benefits of a free, on-campus thrift store.
“Students are coming in pretty frequently, which is awesome,” said Serio. “I think the mission of sustainability is really getting out there. People are getting to know us as an organization on campus that they can come to to learn about sustainability.”
Another goal of Clare’s Closet is aimed at meeting the needs of students that tend to be looked over. Unlike need-based programs often implemented in high schools, colleges do not always provide as many resources for students in the clothing department.
“I think a lot of the time, we overlook that students need clothing; that they might not be able to afford it or that they may not have considered that they needed it,” said Serio. “[Another example is that] international students might not always bring a coat with them.”
Having clothing available to students at no cost is a great resource, especially for those who may not have experienced Western New York weather before. Many students on campus do not have the opportunity to go home and get the clothing they need when the seasons begin to change. Clare’s Closet provides students with an affordable and sustainable way to get those necessary items.
Located in the McGinley-Carney Center in room 115, Clare’s Closet is open to all students on campus, Monday through Thursday, 4-8 P.M. and 4-6 P.M. on Fridays. Students are welcomed and encouraged to stop by, volunteer, and donate clothing to this initiative.
