Joseph Benefiel and Sheccid Rodriguez.
Joseph Benefiel and Sheccid Rodriguez.

Tulane Scholars Launch Campus Clothing Drive, Promote Sustainability

Fall 2022 | Los Angeles

Sheccid Rodriguez and Joseph Benefiel, now sophomore Posse Scholars at Tulane University, have already leaped into their first year on campus, exploring new paths for leadership. One key contribution so far: founding Clothes by the Pound, a campus clothing donation drive.

Sheccid and Joseph each have held positions as first-year representatives in student-run organizations including the Freshman Leadership Program, Black Student Union (BSU), Peer Mentors Program, and TU Gente.

“This event was our way of bringing a little piece of home onto campus while addressing causes we are passionate about.”

The two Scholars built Clothes by the Pound out of a partnership with the BSU and TU Gente, envisioning an event to give the Tulane campus an easy way to help others. The concept was rooted in students’ desire to pass on unwanted clothes as they packed up for the summer. Founders Sheccid and Joseph realized a sustainable solution could simultaneously engage the Tulane campus and give back to the local New Orleans community.

“The name and idea came from our love for thrift culture in Los Angeles, and how most thrift stores sell by the pound,” Sheccid says. “This event was our way of bringing a little piece of home onto campus while addressing causes we are passionate about.”

For the event, Tulane students were invited to donate used clothing items and accessories, then given a chance to purchase others’ items. Sheccid and Joseph also set up a 20% discount coupon for anyone donating three or more pounds of clothing to encourage participation.

In an interview with Crescent Magazine, Sheccid and Joseph spoke about the joy that came from hosting such an impactful campus event.

“We knew there had to be a better way to get rid of unwanted clothes without just throwing them in the trash, so we came up with this,” the pair told the Tulane student publication. “We are excited to have both multicultural organizations as the foundation of the event.”

As one beneficiary of Clothes by the Pound’s proceeds, student organization TU Gente will use funds to increase campus visibility, with money allocated to outreach and student events. The BSU will donate their portion of the proceeds to a domestic violence shelter in the New Orleans community.

“Being a Posse Scholar has been an honor,” Sheccid says, connecting the event’s community service with her own emerging academic goals. “It has really helped show me what I am capable of, and I am very confident in my ability to pursue higher education.”