Radical Abundance board president Nocturne Webster and board member Sami Ebner saw the thrift shop model as a way to raise funds for their mission of getting gender-affirming health care to trans community members. "The people that we serve, especially, really love thrifting," said Ebner.
Courtesy of Radical Ab
Radical Abundance is a Southeast Portland thrift shop that opened on July 23. Like many other thrift shops, volunteers take clothing donations, resell them at a low price and use the proceeds for charitable causes. Their cause? Helping trans and nonbinary folks afford gender-affirming medical care.
OPB “Weekend Edition” host Lillian Karabaic talked to the organizers. Nocti Webster and Sami Ebner. Here are the highlights of their conversation:
Lillian Karabaic: What inspired the Radical Abundance Thrift Shop? Why a thrift
Sami Ebner: We saw how the Goodwill and Salvation Army and other organizations were using the thrift shop model to fund their work. And so what better way to do that in Portland, where people love thrifting? And the people that we serve, especially really love thrifting — like the queer, trans-disabled BIPOC community love thrifting here. And I was like, well, let’s try to put this together and get it going.
Karabaic: So describe the model for me. You’ve got a thrift shop, which is pretty common. You take clothing donations and you resell them at a low price. And then the purpose of that — what are you funding with those proceeds?
Nocti Webster: So we’re funding, right now the thrift shop is 10% of it is going to pay for the location that we’re currently using. Another percentage of it is going to be going towards trans, helping trans women get electrolysis. And then we’re also going to be sending clients for body work. So that’s chiropractic care, massages, perio-sacral, massage and things like that. And then the other 50% of the funds is going to save to get us into a brick-and-mortar space so that we have more space for the thrift shop to continue running it and continue funding the people that we’re trying to help.
Ebner: Especially right now where the trans community is under attack constantly by the media and politicians, having funds available as people find a safe haven here in Portland so that we can help them get electrolysis or other things for gender-affirming care. Absolutely important at this time, as well as our larger vision of creating a clinic for trans people by trans people and just kind of having a hub for them to come to, to find services, to find resources.
Webster: We want to make sure that everyone has something that they can wear and feel comfortable in, as well as helping them get the services that they need. Because these communities — our communities — are often so underserved but need body work and need help the most when it comes to getting medical attention for gender-affirming care.
Ebner: I see, most of the people that have come into the thrift shop so far are trans or nonbinary. And just seeing them walk around and feel comfortable to shop because it is a space made for them. We are not organizing the clothes by any kind of clothing. It’s organized by size. And so anyone can walk in, go to the size large and find clothing in that category that may be more masculine or more feminine or gender neutral and pick out what they want and then go to the bathroom and try them on and feel comfortable in the space where they’re obtaining the clothes. I’ve been watching that every weekend and it’s really nice to see.
Radical Abundance Thrift Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays at 2410 SE. 10th Ave. in Portland. They sell affordable used clothes to raise funds for gender-affirming health care.
Courtesy of Radical Ab
Webster: And for me, it’s a bit of a personal experience because as a black trans-nonbinary person who works full time but still struggles, it’s nice to know that we’re creating a space for people like me and that share the community and know that it’s gonna be affordable and comfortable. ‘cause those things are really important.
Karabaic: How has the response from the community been?
Ebner: It’s been remarkable, the response from the community. So many people are reaching out, dropping off donations, asking if they can volunteer with us. They’re also making sure to come by and shop and, and spread the word of what we’re doing. And without the community, we wouldn’t exist. And it’s, it’s very beautiful.
Radical Abundance Thrift Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays at 2410 SE. 10th Ave. in Portland.