It’s 9 a.m on a mid-Saturday morning. Driving down Jackson Drive, you see a student waving a sign. Swap Meet At Henry! The sign exclaims. The student looks so exuberant, you figure you gotta drive on down and check it out. 

Getting out of your car, in the parking lot of Patrick Henry High School, a carnival of colors, clothes, food and second-hand goods fills the lot, stored in dozens of stalls, booths, and cars with their trunks popped up. You spot skilled, artistic students selling the jewelry they created, as peers marvel at creations and clothes, exclaiming “This is exactly what I was looking for!”, and the sweet aroma of brownies drifts in from somewhere in the rows.

This is the Patrick Henry Swap Meet, an opportunity for students, artisans, and clubs to sell their second-hand goods and handmade items—from crochet creations to crumbly cookies—and to come together and build an unbreakable community.

Boasting over 35 vendors this year, the swap meet hasn’t always been this big. In fact, the idea for it started in the back of Ms. (Lara) Dickens AP Environmental Science classroom, room 316, at Patrick Henry.

In an interview with Dickens, she explained the whole story of how the swap meet grew from its humble three-shelf beginnings to the school-wide event that it is today. 

10 years ago, the AP Environmental Science class began this back-of-the-classroom ongoing rummage sale as a way to exemplify and promote sustainability through reusing clothing instead of tossing them. Soon, it grew, becoming a well-known Patrick Henry phenomenon where students outside of environmental science, from freshmen to seniors, wanted a chance to trade their old clothes for a new pair of perfect jeans or cute new sweater. Dickens, and peers, realized that there were students on campus who needed the ability to buy clothes for less. 

Recognizing this need, the school thrift store was created. 

Sourcing their clothing from donations from other local thrift stores and students, they sell every item for a dollar and provide toiletries like deodorant and soap as well for free. The money all goes to purchasing senior packages or laptops for college for students who can’t afford it otherwise. 

The thrift store was wildly successful, prompting Dickens and the thrift store to begin the swap meet.

“Originally the goal was to reuse and recycle consumer goods,” Dickens explained, “We wanted seniors to make available items that students needed. But we also realized that students needed money and needed items at a discount. While we’re doing this for environmental reasons, we’re making sure that students can make some money off of their belongings and to provide for students who don’t have the means to buy brand new soccer cleats and lacrosse sticks.” 

Bringing the Patrick Henry High community together 

By bringing many Patrick Henry Patriots together into one place, it has exceeded this goal, becoming a way to bring together the school, from clubs to artisans to students.

Clubs like Circle of Friends, actively working to connect all students, are able to raise money for making t-shirts, purchasing coolers and tents that will continue to be used, and supporting their clubs’ fun events that bridge the gap between students. Circle of Friends has been a part of the swap meet since it began 10 years ago, building community beyond what they’ve already forged. 

“It’s good to get clubs like us out into the community and show who we are,” said Kiersten Mumford, co-president. Ms. (Tianna) Reitman, the club’s advisor, adds that “We try to be very involved and have the students be as involved as much as possible, because the biggest part of our club is promoting inclusion and making sure that everyone has a place to belong.” The swap meet has been an amazing opportunity for clubs, promoting such inclusion, to bring that into the larger school-wide community.

Aside from selling, clubs like community service assure that the whole event runs smoothly, with members volunteering their time to run the event, spinning signs, setting up booths, and more. 

President of the Community Service Club, Sophie Nguyen, detailed, “We volunteer at local elementary schools, help out where people request us, do weekly cleanups around school, but the rummage sale is a really large event that we can be at and help make possible.” 

It takes many students from Patrick Henry, working together to make the event happen, but that same work only deepens the connections made at this event.

Displaying your creative talents 

Besides clubs, the swap meet has also become a way for students to show off their creative talents. 

Kimberly Lodge, of Kimberly’s Creations, creates her own beads from paper to create gorgeous, colorful bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. It started off in her freshman year as a way for her to get the money she needed to buy golf clubs to compete on the PHHS golf team, but has grown into a successful business, where she’s enjoyed selling more sustainable jewelry, all while meeting new people through her sales. 

“There’s not a lot of at home vendors, and as a society, we don’t upcycle too much today,”

Lodge noted, “But getting together to upcycle and sell, it’s a great way to build community, while doing something good for the environment.”

Students like Crystiana Chavez, a senior vendor, feel the same way. 

Her freshman year, she sold baked goods with her friends. Although worried that they weren’t going to sell, they ended up being bought like —literal—hot cakes. While she described how fun selling was, she notes especially how great the whole experience was. 

“Starting as a freshman, it was a great way for me to get to know my community and contribute to the school. It even helped me get into the Environmental Club. It felt like it was an experience that brought the whole school together.” Which couldn’t be more accurate. The eclectic, exciting buzz of energy, of the whole school, with clubs, students, and artisans all in one place, is the sort that’s hard to find at any other massive school event.

So, why should you attend the swap meet on Saturday, March 15, from 7 to 11 a.m.? 

Besides the promise of a delicious dessert, a one-of-a-kind creation, or real clothing finds, the event is aboutmore than just creating community between students. It includes you, whether you’re an alumni or you just happen to live nearby. 

So, take the left when you see a student, twirling a sign. 

You may just be suprised by what treasures you find and people you meet. 

Editor’s note: Amelia Kirkegaard is a student at Patrick Henry High School.

(Courtesy photos)