Project Posh: A recap of SHARE’s clothing drive

SHARE held their first clothing drive, Project Posh, this week from Oct. 12-14 to make up for the recent budget cuts in the volunteer program due to COVID-19.

The drive accepted clothing, accessories, shoes, handbags and more, as long as it was clean and in good condition. The clothes will now be sold on Poshmark — a resale app — and all proceeds will be funding supplies for SHARE’s activities and events throughout the year. Any unsold items will be donated to the Shawnee Mission Clothing Center. 

SHARE’s budget for the year was cut by around $10,000 due to the cancelation of their annual project, Renovation Sensation, which brings in the majority of SHARE’s funding.

“We didn’t really think anything of it,” SHARE Exec and senior Libby Hise said. “We were just like, ‘Ok we’re gonna have to work with the money we have, which was about 3,000, and we can just go to the Dollar General or 5 Below [for supplies].’”

When SHARE realized their $3,000 budget wouldn’t cut it for the year, SHARE moms Sheryl Kaplan and Erin Billingsley got the idea of Project Posh from Carrie Wagstaff, the mom of former SHARE-exec Will Wagstaff. 

After hearing SHARE’S budget was cut, Wagstaff mentioned she had just sold a couch on Poshmark for $800, which she offered to donate to SHARE’s fund. 

“[Sheryl and Erin] told us that at one of our meetings and they said, ‘We think it might be a good idea to sell some stuff off Poshmark because you can actually make really good money,’” Hise said. 

Plans quickly came together as the dates for the fundraiser were set during the same time as yearbook photos for the convenience of students. 

While the total amount of clothing is still to be determined, Hise recalls four full trash bags being donated, as well as a Coach bag, Patagonia jackets and retired Homecoming dresses. In the two days of being listed on Poshmark, SHARE has already received two offers on items and made $20. 

Hise explains the promotional hurdles they had to overcome, only having social media and the virtual daily announcement email to get the information out to students and parents. 

“I would say it was as successful as we made it,” Hise said. “It was pretty hard for us to promote it…for the people who saw our social media, usually they’re just scrolling by and see something from SHARE and they might say. ‘Oh, I don’t need to volunteer right now’ and they just scroll past it without even reading it.”

While the fundraiser only lasted three days, the opportunity to donate clothing to Project Posh will last for the remainder of the year in the main office.

“They can take their time and it’s not a big rush and they just go to the main office and say ‘I’m donating to Project Posh,’” Hise said. 

Scan this QR code to check out SHARE’s Poshmark.