A popular Wasaga Beach clothing swap returns for a second year, giving residents a chance to refresh their wardrobes while supporting local figure skaters and keeping usable clothing out of the landfill.
The “Love It Longer” clothing swap is being held this weekend at the RecPlex on Mosley Street, this year in partnership with the Wasaga Beach Figure Skating Club. Organizers say proceeds from the event will help the club purchase a new lift harness used to safely train skaters learning jumps and aerial movements.
“All proceeds will go towards the figure skating club's purchase of a brand new lift harness,” organizer Lisa Linhares told Barrie 360. “So as the skaters are training to do the jumps and all those great Olympic moves, the funding for it will come directly from this clothing swap.”
Donations of gently used clothing, accessories, shoes and toys are being accepted at the RecPlex from noon to 7 p.m. today (Friday). Organizers are accepting items for men, women and children.
The event drew strong support in its first year, with organizers collecting roughly 1,500 pounds of donated clothing.
“Huge hit last year. Huge hit,” Linhares said. “We had a huge response from people saying, make sure you do it again. People have been asking all year when it's happening.”
This year’s event is being timed around Mother’s Day weekend and is being promoted as both a shopping opportunity and a social outing. A special “First Dibs Friday” event runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, featuring DJs, mocktails and early access to donated items for $25 admission. General admission shopping continues Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $15.
Unlike some thrift-style fundraisers, organizers say shoppers are encouraged to take as much as they can carry.
“It's more than just fill a bag,” Linhares said. “Really, it's take as much as you can handle, take as much as you like.”
The swap will feature sections dedicated to prom and formal wear, business clothing and everyday family items. A seamstress will also be on-site to help with minor alterations and repairs.
“We really want to help, especially younger people, find stuff that are going to make them feel really special and pretty on their nights,” Lisa said.
Organizers say the event is about more than fundraising. It is also aimed at making clothing more accessible for families while encouraging reuse and sustainability.
“This is really just meant to help clothe the community and really find a better use for clothing rather than landing up in landfills,” Lisa said. “Give them a second life when we can love them longer.”
Any items left over after the event will again be donated to other community organizations for future fundraising efforts.
