Students donate clothing, host fashion event

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MSU Hillel Jewish Student Center combined fashion and philanthropy Monday night at The Refinery.

Members of the organization donated clothes to Goodwill, shopped and socialized while raising money and helping people clean out their closets, MSU Hillel co-president and marketing senior Abbey Askotzky said.

“Our goal was to get donations,” she said. “It’s kind of like, ‘Out with the old, in with the new.’”

MSU Hillel’s After Hours at The Refinery program was an idea MSU Hillel chairwoman Hilary Greenberg thought up while with her girlfriends.

“I wanted to make an event that was fun and social, but worth something more than just socializing,” said Greenberg, a communicative sciences and disorders sophomore.

“I brought my mom’s clothes, my dad’s clothes, mine and a bunch of old shoes.”

Kelsey Harris, manager at The Refinery, 115 Albert Ave., said doing private parties like the event put on by MSU Hillel is a way to gain customers.

“When I was hired on, the store wanted me to do promotions to bring people in,” she said. “Private parties that bring in student organizations are the easiest way to get people to come to the store.”

Many organizations in the Lansing area also have had private parties at the boutique, and the events usually have attracted a good turnout, Harris said.

“We offer food and drinks, free giveaways and discounts on clothes,” she said. “It’s a relaxed atmosphere and it’s fun.”

Most of the giveaways are donated by Bronze Bay Tanning and East Lansing bars.

Harris said most of the store’s private parties have included a fashion show, but because getting models to come in Monday night would be difficult, the event featured mannequins dressed in The Refinery’s fashions.

Many of the events MSU Hillel plans are meant to provide an opportunity for students to socialize and give back to the community, Greenberg said.

“The aspect of giving back is not always incorporated in our events, but we try to include it as often as possible,” Askotzky said.

Staff writer Pete Nichols contributed to this report.

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