What started as a few tables of free clothing has grown into a beloved 15-year tradition at Dublin Scioto High School, bringing together students, parents, and the community for a day of sustainability, generosity, and school spirit.

At Dublin Scioto High School, December isn’t just about exams and winter concerts—it’s also the season for one of the school’s most anticipated traditions: Café Thrift. This unique, student-centered event transforms the Performing Arts Center into a vibrant thrift shop for a day, offering every Scioto student the chance to “shop” for free clothing, shoes, and accessories.

The Dublin Scioto High School PTO is at the heart of this effort, guided by its mission to foster communication and cooperation between home, school, and community. Through recognition of student achievement, support for teachers, and promotion of constructive activities, the PTO ensures that students thrive in a positive, stimulating environment. Café Thrift has become one of its hallmark projects—an initiative that perfectly blends community collaboration, sustainability, and student engagement.

The idea for Café Thrift was first sparked by former Scioto teacher Bonnie Gamary and current teacher Georgia Hover, who, alongside teachers, PTO parents, and like past PTO President like Kathy Harter, noticed the growing popularity of “thrifting.” At a PTO meeting, Hover and Gamary mentioned how much students loved to thrift, and the concept quickly blossomed. The first Café Thrift filled the tables in the cafeteria with donated clothing—the excitement it generated revealed its potential. (After school event – then changed to the school day) To make the event work, students, faculty and parents needed to know that it was open to the whole entire school community.

Over the years, Café Thrift has grown into something much larger. With strong involvement from student leaders in music, sports, and clubs, the event spread quickly by word of mouth. The PTO partnered with local businesses like Plato’s Closet, One Dublin, and Kenneth’s Hair Design to supplement donations from families and neighbors. Parents and community members also stepped in, helping collect and prepare clothing to ensure there would be enough for every student.

Today, Café Thrift is a large-scale operation, with months of preparation leading up to the December event. Students from the Senate and National Honor Society join staff, parents, and volunteers to retrieve, sort, and fold clothing. In the weeks prior, evening and daytime volunteer shifts ensure everything is ready. The final setup takes place the day before, so when the doors open at 7 a.m., students step into a fully stocked “store” that lasts until 3 p.m. During the day, you will see students carrying their bags of new free clothes around the halls.  To celebrate their new wardrobes, the students would have a “Ware your Café Thrift Best Day”.  Also, before Café Thrift, students would set aside clothes for a few teachers and administrators for them to wear.  Pictures were taken to help publicize the event.

Each year, more than 1,400 students have the opportunity to participate, selecting clothing, coats, shoes, and accessories. What makes the event truly special is that it’s free and inclusive, designed to benefit every student equally. Beyond meeting immediate needs, Café Thrift promotes sustainability and recycling, teaching students the value of reusing items while strengthening school pride.

Café Thrift has become an integral part of Dublin Scioto’s identity, drawing attention from Dublin City Council after students presented the story of the event’s success. For many, it represents more than free clothing. It’s about unity, creativity, and the pride of giving back.

Committee lead Jessica Sauter devotes countless hours to organizing Café Thrift, ensuring its continued success. 

“This is such an amazing event,” the PTO notes. “It takes a lot of work and many volunteers, but our students love it, and it makes a real difference in their lives.”

As the racks fill and students gather to shop this December, Café Thrift will once again demonstrate how a simple idea, fueled by dedication and community spirit, can evolve into a tradition that enriches an entire school.