Bison Thrift Gives Clothing a Second Life and Students Business Experience
November 4, 2026
Rory Hunter '27 (left) manages Bison Thrift, which gives donated clothing a second life while providing students with affordable shopping options and experience running a campus business. Photo by Emily Lamparter, Marketing & Communications
Bison Thrift, a student-run thrift store, opened in September in Bucknell University's Elaine Langone Center, offering students an affordable place to shop while keeping usable clothing out of the waste stream.
Founders Ella Slayton '26 and Elliott Kilgallen '26 helped turn the idea into a campus business. Now managed by Rory Hunter '27, an environmental studies and English double-major, the store employs four students who are gaining experience selling donated secondhand clothing and managing daily operations.
Turning an Idea Into a Business
Slayton and Kilgallen saw an opportunity to connect students who had clothing to give away with those eager to shop secondhand. A 2023 campus waste audit also prompted Slayton to consider how more discarded materials could be kept out of landfills.
Through Bucknell Student Government's (BSG) Sustainability Committee, the pair helped organize pop-up thrift events that demonstrated interest in both donating and shopping. They also helped coordinate the year-end Sustainable Moveout program with DIG Furniture Bank in Milton, Pa., and Bucknell's Office of Religious & Spiritual Life.
A permanent store could build on those efforts while creating campus jobs.
"The store is great for students, great for the waste stream, and also provides a work opportunity on campus," Kilgallen says.
Getting there took more than collecting clothes and filling racks. The founders needed a budget, startup funding, a staffing plan and answers to questions about pricing and payment systems. Campus staff helped them navigate student employment processes, financial reporting and Pennsylvania sales tax considerations. They also worked with Bucknell's administration to enable purchases through students' debit accounts.
BSG is funding the store's pilot year. The goal is for sales revenue to cover student wages and ongoing expenses, including replacement supplies and equipment.
Our goal was to make sustainable choices more accessible and enjoyable while bringing the campus community together, and that experience continues to shape how I look for opportunities to make a positive impact beyond Bucknell.
Elliott Kilgallen '26
Building Something That Lasts
Slayton, who double-majored in environmental studies and political science, and Kilgallen, who studied cell biology/biochemistry, brought different academic backgrounds to the project. Both had spent years participating in campus environmental initiatives. With Bison Thrift, they wanted to create an operation that could continue beyond their graduation.
"I've learned that a clear purpose makes organizations more effective because it guides decisions, unites people and creates lasting value for the communities they serve,” says Slayton, now communications and executive engagement manager at Christensen Global, a climate-focused strategic advisory firm.
Kilgallen, now a medical assistant at Mass General Brigham in Boston, continues her community involvement through volunteer work addressing food waste, food insecurity and local conservation.
The founders established oversight through BSG's Sustainability Committee and prepared to hand the operation over to new student leaders. They continued working on the launch after graduating, helping resolve logistical issues and prepare for student hiring this fall.
Hunter is now helping bring their vision to life.
"Now that Bison Thrift is up and running, it's been wonderful to see students stopping in to shop, ask questions and learn more about our mission," Hunter says.
More Ways To Shop Sustainably
Bison Thrift joins two other student-led efforts to give clothing a longer life.
Bucknell Refit: Founded by Ava Sklar '28, this online marketplace launched in spring 2026 and allows students to buy and sell secondhand clothing within the Bucknell community. Building and operating the platform has given Sklar experience in software development, payment processing and entrepreneurship.
Professional Clothing Closet: Created by Beta Alpha Psi, an international honors organization for management students, the closet is expected to open in 2027 and will offer donated professional attire to students across campus. The initiative has already collected 300 pieces to help students prepare for career fairs, interviews and networking events.
