06-02-2025
Lyman Hall students, staff open thrift store within high school
WALLINGFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A thrift store recently opened in Wallingford, but it's not where you might think. It's located at Lyman Hall High School.
'It feels like a normal store,' Kayla Casorla, a senior at Lyman Hall High School, said. 'If you were shopping, but you don't have to pay anything.'
The store is nestled inside the school's library. It's stocked with pants, tops, coats, shoes and all sorts of accessories.
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'I'll pop in and say, those are some really cute jeans!' Bella Ruisanchez, a junior at Lyman Hall High School, said.
The Top Drawer Thrift Store opened in October and, so far, more than 400 students have made their way through the space.
'It's way more than I could have imagined,' Kristina Jensen, a social worker at the school, said.
The idea came from Jensen. She took inspiration from Branford, where she has a student in the district.
Lee Panagoulias, principal of Branford High School, told News 8 the school launched a thrift store in December 2023. He said it's set up like a regular storefront and its run by students, teachers and their student support team. Since it opened, they've helped hundreds of students.
'Last spring, we started reaching out to staff here in the building to say we got the funding for this, we're going to start taking donations, and the staff were on board right away,' Jensen said. 'We have a 10 item per month limit, but that really is flexible, knowing kids come and go and we have some kids come in and take things for family members. We'll have staff members from other buildings reach out.'
The hope is to provide resources to students in need and show students the impact of reusing clothing — and reducing waste.
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'I've been doing this for 25 years, so having some new come in that I can be excited about and be inspired by is really awesome,' Jenn Castelli, an English teacher at Lyman Hall High School, said. 'The kids that come in are so grateful.'
Castelli helps out at the store and volunteers her time.
'It's a small thing I think we can do that makes a big difference,' she added. 'Isn't that kind of the point?'
The support has been overwhelming with many stepping up to help and donate.
'The staff that are involved, Mrs. Jensen and Mrs. Castelli, are just unbelievable people,' Joseph Corso, principal of Lyman Hall High School, said. 'I just said yes.'
They don't need donations at this time, but the school will let the community know once that changes.
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