On Tuesday, April 16, 2026, the Ingman Room inside the University of Toledo’s Student Union was buzzing with activity. All throughout the day, students stopped by for a chance to shop for donated goods, with many of them leaving with a bag full of fun, interesting and useful items.
The Rocket Thrift Shop is an event where students can “shop” for free for gently used clothing, books, houseware items and more. Hosted by the Center for Advocacy and Student Experience, this event occurs at least once a semester, with donations provided by the UToledo community.
The Rocket Thrift Shop has become popular with students, particularly as an engaging and practical way to offset some of the burdens of living on campus. The April 16 event specifically saw dozens of students participate across its six hours of operation.
Anne Bennett, a program manager for the Center for International Studies and Programs, was one of the volunteers overseeing the Rocket Thrift Shop. She noted the high amount of activity despite the fact that the event had been open for only 30 minutes up to that point.
“As you can see, there was a line out the front to start,” Bennett said. “We know that a lot of people come in, and I’ve already taken a lot of hangers off clothes, because people have gone out with a lot of clothing already.”
Robby Rothenbuehler, a junior majoring in biology premed, was one of the many students who attended the event.
“I showed up to Rocket Thrift last year. There was a sign last year just heading up to the Student Union last year,” Rothenbuehler said. “I was looking forward to it this semester.”
Alex Gonzalez, a junior majoring in art history, learned of the Rocket Thrift Shop through a student in the Global Latin Student Union who was volunteering at the event. Gonzalez’s goal at the event was to acquire clothes for fashion experimentation.
“It’s really nice to have this opportunity to get a couple of new things every so often,” Gonzalez said. “I only grab things that I really think no one else would want because I want to get into customizing clothes.”
While attendees and volunteers came and went throughout the day, one feeling that united all people involved was the event’s importance. Access to tangible resources for students, such as engaging events like the thrift shop, is a great opportunity to connect students to each other and the departments in place to serve a variety of students’ needs. For some, the event allowed them to simply acquire things they needed, as Bennett noted.
“I would be thrilled [as a student] to be able to find things that I need for my dorm room or my apartment and clothing that I didn’t bring with me from home,” Bennett said.
For others, the Rocket Thrift Shop was important as a means to save money. This academic year, 31% of UToledo’s student population were eligible for Pell Grants and 24% were first-generation college students, demographics typically recognized as more socioeconomically vulnerable. Resources like the thrift shop and Rocket Fuel, a food pantry that helps reduce food insecurity, are designed by CASE to assist these needs.
Media communications major Quinn Cooper also attended the event and highlighted the Rocket Thrift Shop as a free resource students could use if they needed assistance.
“It gives off an opportunity for students to get clothes while they’re living separate from their family,” Cooper said. “If they’re struggling with money, most of this is all free. All you need to do is just really get your Rocket Card and you’re getting free clothes right here and there, as long as you can fit it in a bag.”
