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3rd Annual SECT Swap

First Free Kids Holiday Gift Swap

Over 100 families across Connecticut were supported through this event.

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Made Possible by our Sponsor: 

This year marked a meaningful shift for the SECT Swap. What began as a community clothing swap evolved into something deeper, a resource for families during the holiday season.

We hosted our first free kids holiday gift swap, creating a space where parents and caregivers could come in and leave with something meaningful to gift the child in their life.

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What It Was

A community-powered holiday swap designed to ease financial pressure while keeping the spirit of giving alive. Parents and adults were invited to participate in a simple but impactful exchange: bring what you can, take what you need. The goal was not just access, but dignity.
To make sure every child could receive something thoughtful during the holidays.

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What We Collected & Shared

Quality, gently used:

  • Toys

  • Books

  • Games

  • Kids clothing (infant–teen)

Every item was reviewed and organized so families could “shop” the space in a way that felt intentional and respectful.

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Gift Wrap Station

We created a dedicated wrapping area so items could leave ready to be placed under the tree.

Community donations made this possible, including:

  • Gift boxes

  • Wrapping paper

  • Bags and supplies

Beyond the Event

Not everything stops at the swap.

Any remaining items were redistributed directly into the community through:​

  • Families in need

  • Southeastern Connecticut-based organizations

This ensured items continued to serve a purpose rather than going to waste.
 

Why This One Mattered

This wasn’t just another swap. It was a shift toward what Re:Co is becoming, community care in action, built on trust, access, and shared resources.

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Event Hosts

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What & Why
a Clothing Swap?

This is the perfect opportunity for you to update your wardrobe and exchange clothing you no longer wear for something that you will wear!

 

With the current cost of living and rising inflation, Swap before you shop is a great way to keep money in your pockets.

Swap Before You Shop

Sustainable

Brands and stores previously had only a few seasons, now they have 52 seasons, pushing out new clothes WEEKLY!


The fashion industry is one of the LARGEST polluters of clean water in the world. Their greenhouse gas emissions are comparable to those of ALL international flights and ocean freight-shipping combined.

 

The average USAmerican throws away roughly 70 pounds of clothing yearly which end up in landfills and take hundreds of years to decompose. We NEED to make a change. 


Clothing swaps help keep clothes out of landfills and allow you to obtain ‘new’ clothes and accessories without directly participating in fast fashion.

"FAST FASHION ISN'T FREE. 
SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE IS PAYING."
- LUCY SIEGLE

Ethical

The majority of people, 85% of them being women, who make clothes you buy in stores live in poverty and are subject to exploitation. That means they are working in unsafe and dirty conditions with very little pay.

 

For years, brands have ‘chased the cheap needle’ around the world, seeking countries with the lowest labor standards so that garment workers can be easily exploited.
Worker exploitation is an essential part of the fast fashion model.

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