Student Puts Empathy at Forefront of Service

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A powerful conversation between Torrance High School junior Cara K. and Principal Karim Girgis sparked a student-driven transformation in how support is provided to those in need. Far from the feel of a traditional donation center, Tartar Threads, offers a boutique-style resource center conceptualized where students can pick outfree clothing, school supplies, and essentials in a setting designed to foster dignity, choice, and belonging for students whose resources might be inadequate....

“I want my peers to feel like they're shopping, not struggling,” Cara explains. She emphasized the unfortunate shame people feel and the stigma associated with traditional donation centers, regardless of the organization’s good intentions.

“When students feel like accepting help means they’re failing to meet their goals of independence or self-sufficiency, they can avoid it, even if it hurts them,” Cara said. “I wanted to change the way help is presented so students don’t feel like they're giving something up by asking for support.”

Located in a repurposed classroom supported by the tremendous help of Torrance High School’s counselors, the space replicates a fashion-forward retail experience, complete with tagged items featuring affirming messages, monthly outfit displays, donations from students, and a discreet access system for students to use throughout the day for submitting their shopping interests.

In Cara’s words, “...real change doesn’t have to start big, it just has to start.” To support Tartar Threads, schedule a donation drop-off, contact Tartar Threads via Instagram @TartarThreads.

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