By Parker Leipzig

University of Maryland students emptied their wallets for the Young Democratic Socialists of America’s pop-up thrift shop for mutual aid on McKeldin Mall Nov. 10 through 12. 

According to the YDSA executive board, the fundraiser acquired a total of $992 over the three-day sale.

Though club members thought selling second-hand clothes to raise money could be a good idea, none of them expected the level of success they received.

The quality and quantity of the clothes donated also stunned the media and communications chair of YDSA, Molly Szymanski. 

“We’ve got some Columbia, Eddie Bauer, North Face and stuff — we weren’t expecting that at all,” Szymanski, a sophomore journalism major part of the mutual aid working group said. 

Sophia D’Alonzo, one of the chairs of the mutual aid working group, a sector of YDSA, relayed her shock at the support the event garnered.

“We didn’t really have a number in mind, but over $900 is really mind blowing,” the sophomore political communication and environmental science and policy double major said. “Really gives us a lot to work with and start our mutual aid fund and gives us more of an ability to help people, which is really great.”

The mutual aid branch of YDSA is relatively new; the group created it earlier this semester. While the group is primarily a political organization, they also seek to help those struggling with financial instability, an issue that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. 

Katherine Badia, a sophomore government and politics major part of the mutual aid working group, stressed the importance of working to give back to the community through the club.

“It’s really important now that we’re able to give resources to people in a way that is no-strings-attached, and they don’t have to wait on it from the government,” Badia said. “So it’s good that we’re just now able to give people what they need in times of crisis like this.”

With the starting fund created from the thrift store, the club wants to create their own mutual aid campaigns. They hope to expand or open their own campus pantry because they believe the current hours are not accessible for all students. The club also said they hope to buy and donate menstrual products in the Prince George’s County community. 

The club’s plans for the mutual aid working group do not end there. Badia said the group wants to collaborate with other nonprofit organizations in the area.

“The other thing we’d like to do is work with already established mutual aid organizations in PG County and D.C. because there’s a whole bunch that cover different topics like working with people who are getting out of prison,” Badia said. 

The group also liked the idea of a thrift store as a fundraiser because they are doing a big push for ecosocialism, merging socialist ideals with green politics, according to Badia. 

“So that just perfectly aligned with our values,” she said.

According to D’Alonzo, YDSA faced some criticism from members of Turning Point USA at UMD, a conservative political student group, who said they were being “hypocrites” for engaging in capitalism as a socialist group. However, the clothing pieces were all acquired by donation, and YDSA is not profiting from the sales.

YDSA has gained popularity since coming back from an all-online presence during the pandemic. Szymanski said the group now has 40 members. The higher turnout sparked the creation of their working groups — mutual aid, electoral and labor — to “streamline action.”

“You don’t need to wait on officials to take action,” Szymanski said. “It’s just people doing some good, wholesome grassroots change.”

Featured image: UMD students examine clothing being sold at YDSA’s pop-up thrift shop for mutual aid on McKeldin Mall. The funds will be used to help those struggling with financial instability on UMD’s campus and in Prince George’s County. Photo by Minnie Stephenson.