Students partner with Woodrow Marketplace for community yard sale

Lexington-Richland School District Five’s BRIDGE program is teaming up with Woodrow Marketplace to host a fundraising yard sale in its parking lot, with 100% of the proceeds directly benefiting School District Five’s student-led businesses.

The event, aptly themed "Bridging the Gap," is scheduled to run Friday, Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Woodrow Marketplace, located at 7500 Woodrow St. in Irmo.

The BRIDGE 18+ Transition Program — which stands for Building Readiness for Independence, Development, Growth and Employment — focuses on equipping students with essential life and career skills. By operating their own micro-businesses, students gain hands-on, real-world experience in financial literacy, product creation, customer service and team collaboration.

The fundraising yard sale will serve a dual purpose: raising capital to fund these student enterprises while giving the youth a platform to showcase their work to the community.

Attendees can expect a diverse selection of items. The market will feature:

• Hidden gems and treasures: A wide assortment of traditional yard sale finds and pre-owned items donated for the cause.
• Student-made goods: Unique crafts, items and specialized products designed and manufactured by the students themselves.
• Student-made food: Freshly prepared baked goods and treats whipped up by the program's culinary creators.

“BRIDGE gives our students the opportunity to take what they are learning in the classroom and turn it into meaningful, real-world experiences,” said Jinni Friend, director of special services for Lexington-Richland School District Five. “This partnership with Woodrow Marketplace is an exciting example of how our community can come together to support student entrepreneurship, build confidence and independence and help our students develop skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom. We are grateful to Woodrow Marketplace for investing in our students and helping us bridge the gap between education and opportunity.”  

Woodrow Marketplace owner Taco Beltran added, “It takes a community to build a community, and we are excited to help support these students and this program!"

Organizers encourage community members to come out, shop, and meet the students behind the brands. Both cash and card payments will be accepted for the event.