School can be so time consuming and demanding for some students, which is why the Viking Closet is here to help by offering free clothing for anyone who may need it.
The Viking Closet is a donation-run clothing store that has recently reopened on April 11 for all LBCC Students in building E.
Jacqueline Evans is an aspiring actress that is in the Performing Arts program at Long Beach City College. She enjoys taking trips to the Viking Closet to find cool merchandise.
“There is so much good stuff in there, from clothes to shoes and accessories. This really helps me out,” Evans said.
They cater to both men and women, and soon they will be having a section for kids and babies. They always have new arrivals and try to rotate stock with the seasons.
There’s all sorts of varieties of clothing that are for free, including business attire, formal wear, athletic and casual wear to name a few.
Clothes are not the only thing they carry in the Vikings Closet. They also have some hygiene products, school supplies and snacks for you while you’re shopping.
Nayzeth Nolasco-Romos, the Viking Closet coordinator, informed us that club members go through every piece of clothing. They wash and even mend some of them, but only if they’re in good condition.
Nolasco-Romos says they only like to have things in there that are nice and not worn down and old.
Then, they organize all the clothing in the closet into their proper destination of categories, so it’s easy for the students to find whatever they may be looking for.
The club members take inventory of everything that comes in and out of the facility, so they can have a better idea of what students need. “We are really here to cater to the students’ needs. That’s our main priority,” Nolasco-Romos said.
The Viking Closet is run by Alpha Gamma Sigma-Kappa which is the Scholastic Honor Society for the California Community Colleges.
The hours of operation are from 10am-11:30am and 1:15pm-3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They are looking to expand the hours soon.
Evans enjoys reusing clothes because it helps save the planet and second-hand fashion has really come into popularity within recent years. She thinks going to the Viking Closet is better than going to the thrift store because it’s free.
Come and see the Viking closet for yourself anytime during their operating hours. You may be surprised at what you may be able to find.