Webster Professor Hosts First Community Resource Pop-Up

On Jan. 31, Webster University’s first Community Resource Pop-Up will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Lot K, near the H. Sam Priest Center and Interdisciplinary Science Building, offering free necessities to anyone in need.

As the cost of living rises and basic necessities morph into luxuries, Webster alum and adjunct professor Kate Wylie is organizing the event as a free resource open to all, including non-enrolled students.

The Community Resource Pop-Up is a giveaway event, designed to supply community members with essentials, such as clothes, books, blankets, canned goods, coats and shoes. This pop-up is Wylie’s passion project.

“All of us have that chair full of clothes we want to donate, a pair of shoes we haven’t worn in years, a pile of blankets that could be keeping someone else warm,” Wylie said.

Wylie said professors at the university have previously organized food banks for international students and people rely on food banks and other community services to get by in the city. Inspired by her colleagues’ efforts, she decided to put on her own event.

“We cannot expect our institutions and systems to save us; only we, the people, have that power,” Wylie said.

People can donate clothes and other necessities to resale stores, but community members are expected to pay for those resources at the stores. Due to the surge of resale stores, Wylie feels inclined to offer a free option.

“Asking vulnerable community members to pay for what more secure members of the community no longer need is an absurdity,” Wylie said.

She wants a program that directly gives immediate material needs to the disadvantaged, which is why she plans to host a number of these events throughout this year. Wylie wants to hold the next pop-up in a few months.

“No one will be expected to show proof of need; if you need, you need, and we will help take care of you,” Wylie said.

To donate, students and other members of the community can email Wylie at teamkatewylie@gmail.com. Donations can be brought to the event, though advance donations are preferred. Wylie said enough resources have already been collected for a successful pop-up.

To find out more information about the event and future pop-ups, Wylie encourages anyone interested to contact her by email.