LBCC’s Basic Needs Program hosted a Sip and Thrift event on March 3, where students were given coffee and donuts while they shopped for clothing and jewelry at the quad outside of the B-building at the LAC.
The event allowed students to shop for donated clothing while also connecting with LBCC resources such as emergency rental relief, food support programs and career services that support their academic and professional success.
According to Stephanie Jimenez, the Sip and Thrift event coordinator from LBCC’s Basic Needs Program, the event was created to expand access to professional clothing for students.
“Initially, at the Career Center, we started a partnership with JCPenney for the suit up event, which offers discounted professional clothing for students. But, we started realizing that there were still financial barriers for students, so we wanted to find a way to bring professional attire, Jimenez said.
To make this possible, the Career Center partnered with the Basic Needs Program and its Viking Closet.
Sip and Thrift allows students to enjoy refreshments from Better Breakfast while browsing for clothing items. The Better Breakfast Program is a campus initiative that provides free hot meals and addresses hunger and housing insecurity among students.
The program is supported by the Healthy Viking Initiative and will provide increased access to food, appropriate housing agencies and information regarding transportation resources for LBCC students.
“I really love the idea of the Sip and Thrift because students are able to get food and then shop,”
Dorthy Cardenas, a Viking Vault staff member, said.
The event on March 3 was the very first time the Sip and Thrift event was hosted.
The organizer’s whole idea was to help students feel confident as they prepare for future opportunities.
“One of the main goals is to help with career readiness for our students, we want them to show up confidently in an interview, a job or whatever the case may be,” Jimenez said.
Students and staff gather around for the Sip and Thrift event hosted by the Basic Needs program held at the Liberal Arts Campus on March 3, 2026. Various staff, like career center coordinators Jorge Rios and counseling and guidance educator Elio Lopez, were present throughout the event as well. (Thavarath Ellis)
Most of the clothing available at the event was donated by the LBCC community.
“A lot of the clothing was provided by LBCC staff who donated items, we have clothes that still have tags on them,” Jimenez said.
She explained where more of the items used for the event came from.
“The mannequin was donated by JCPenney, and our dressing room was provided by our program specialist Joseph Pacheco, it really took a village to put this together,” Jimenez said.
Jorge Rios, a representative from the LBCC Career Center, said events like Sip and Thrift are designed to support students as they explore career paths.
“Sometimes students come in and say, ‘I’m not sure what I want to do in my life, I need more direction,’ and we help them meet with counselors and explore their options,” Rios said.
By partnering with Basic Needs, the Career Center hopes to make professional clothing more accessible for students.
“Professional clothing can be very expensive nowadays. This is a way for students to get access to professional attire for free,” Rios said.
Organizers hope that events like Sip and Thrift will help students feel more prepared for internships, interviews and future careers.
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