Milton Bazaar Brings Community Together

By Kleshie Manyo-Plange ’28

The Milton Bazaar, held on Thursday, May 28, allowed the Milton community to support sustainability and community engagement efforts. Organized through Milton Academy’s Community Engagement and Partnerships Program (CEPP) in collaboration with the Sustainability Board, the event transformed end-of-year clothing donations into a community shop where students, families, faculty, and staff can purchase secondhand items while supporting local organizations.

To make the event more affordable for students, clothing and other items were sold at low prices. Tops, sweatpants, shorts, and skirts were $3; jeans, pants, dresses, and shoes were $4. Jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts were $5, and accessories were sold for $2.

According to CEPP Director Ms. Andrea Geyling-Moore, the Bazaar was originally the brainchild of former CEPP Co-Head Mai Le in 2023 and has since developed into a collaboration between student leadership and the Sustainability Board. While the initial idea was student-led, Ms. Geyling-Moore noted that the Bazaar has continued to evolve as part of Milton’s broader sustainability and community engagement efforts.

She explained that the timing of the event is closely connected to “Green Move Out” at the end of the school year, when large amounts of unwanted clothing are collected from dorms. The Bazaar serves as a way to begin the clothing collection process while also allowing the Milton community to “practice reuse by purchasing great deals and at the same time supporting local organizations,” said Ms. Geyling-Moore.

Beyond its drive for sustainability, the Milton Bazaar is closely tied to Milton’s broader community engagement mission. Proceeds from purchases are directed towards long-standing CEPP partner organizations such as the family shelter Brookview House, the Milton Food Pantry, and the Neponset River Watershed Association. According to the CEPP Co-Head Emlyn Joseph ‘27, the Bazaar raised a total of $470 this year; each purchase supported local organizations while allowing students to make a tangible impact beyond campus.

Ms. Geyling-Moore noted that one of the most meaningful aspects of the Bazaar was the enthusiasm it generated across campus. “People all seemed excited about the fact that it was happening, whether they participated or not,” she said. She added that some students expressed plans to be more intentional in future years by setting aside clothing for donation. The event’s reach was beyond its intended audience: even construction workers stopped by to shop.

Students reflected on the event as both an enjoyable initiative and a meaningful community experience. Camila Gomez ’29 expressed mixed opinions toward the Bazaar, sharing both positive takeaways and areas for improvement. She noted that while she understands the purpose of redistributing clothing and promoting reuse, many of the items had rips or holes. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that the Bazaar’s success relies on community participation and added that without consistent contributions from students, the event would not be possible. She suggested that the community, including Camila herself, could have donated more usable items to elevate the overall quality of what was offered.

Rae Hopkins ’26 enjoyed browsing the Bazaar but felt its cash-only payment system limited participation by being less accessible for some. “People don’t really carry cash anymore,” she said. Hopkins suggested allowing credit cards or the use of IAs in future years, as she likely would have purchased something had those options been available. Despite that criticism, she viewed the Bazaar as a valuable community initiative that encourages students to donate clothing.

Sam Breyer ’28, who volunteered during the event as a member of the Sustainability Board, explained that helping out during his club block allowed him to see how the event functioned. Breyer emphasized that the Bazaar made community engagement more accessible, since students did not need to travel off campus to participate in a meaningful cause, and brought the community together around sustainability.

Going forward, the Milton Bazaar continues to represent sustainability initiatives at Milton. The impact of it relies not only on the redistribution of clothing but also on the sense of community it fosters across campus. Overall, the 2026 Milton Bazaar is a reminder that what may begin as small, student-led initiatives can grow into meaningful traditions that make large impacts on our community and others.