Evanston’s two Buy Nothing Facebook groups build community while keeping items out of landfills
The Daily Northwestern
By: Regan Huizenga, Assistant City Editor
Early this year, the Buy Nothing Evanston Facebook group had fewer than 10,000 members. Now it has over 12,000.
Couple Ellis and Erin Booker started the Facebook group in 2021.
“Ultimately, the goal is to try to keep things out of landfills and keep people aware of how much we consume and how much we throw away,” Erin Booker said. “There’s just so much abundance, and it’s very available should anybody really take the time and make it available to someone else.”
The group’s growth has been completely organic — the Bookers haven’t advertised their group in any way, Ellis Booker said. Rather, the growth has been a “beautiful surprise,” he added.
Still, Ellis Booker speculates that there may be a reason for the recent surge in group membership.
“Is it possible that as people are getting more and more concerned about the economy, the impact of tariffs, slowdowns, layoffs, whatever, that they’re saying, ‘Hey, we don’t need to buy this bookshelf. Let’s look on some free sites?’” Ellis Booker said.
The Buy Nothing Evanston Facebook group post gets several posts a day, with members offering a variety of items, from toys to clothing to furniture, for free. Posting items for sale is not allowed.
2024 prom boutique: Hundreds of dresses, dreams – delivered
Evanston RoundTable
By: Belinda Lichty Clarke
On April 13-15, the Woman’s Club of Evanston was transformed into a no-cost prom boutique for Chicagoland high school students.
With racks packed with dresses in sizes ranging from zero to 23, in addition to shoes, jewelry and evening purses, the ballroom and main floor of the club were buzzing. The event, called Dreams Delivered, is a signature event hosted by the Woman’s Club and the Ivy Pearl Foundation in collaboration with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Delta Chi Omega Chapter.
“Our involvement in delivering dreams through initiatives like Dreams Delivered is truly impactful,” said Stella Salisu Hickman, Ivy Pearl Foundation president. “Our foundation member Pamela Akins-Schanette’s dedication to supporting youth in Evanston, along with the partnership with the Woman’s Club of Evanston, underscores the importance of collaboration in creating meaningful change. Together, we’re not only providing dresses and accessories, we’re offering young people a sense of inclusivity and empowerment, ensuring that prom night becomes a cherished memory for all involved.”
The Woman’s Club of Evanston dresses local students up at 17th annual Dreams Delivered Prom Boutique
The Daily Northwestern
By: Marisa Guerra Echeverria
The Woman’s Club of Evanston hosted its annual Dreams Delivered Prom Boutique from Sunday to Tuesday, outfitting 120 Chicago area students with free prom dresses, shoes and accessories through a custom experience.
The Woman’s Club co-hosted the program with the Ivy Pearl Foundation, a philanthropic organization within the Delta Chi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, at the WCE Clubhouse. The boutique has outfitted prom-goers for the past 17 years, instituting a legacy of service and empowerment in the Evanston community. ...
Dreams Delivered has evolved from a need-based, ETHS-focused event to serve a growing number of students from diverse backgrounds. Organizers promote inclusivity as an event tenet.
“We do not have any restrictions by gender (or) gender identity,” event chairperson Erin Booker said. “We don’t restrict by income or, right now, geographical location … It’s open to pretty much anyone who wants a dress.”
At This Time: For the dream night
Evanston RoundTable
By: Richard Cahan
High school students and helpers look over more than 1,000 free prom dresses at the annual “Dreams Delivered” boutique at the Woman’s Club of Evanston. “For today’s kids, a lot of this is about sustainability and keeping garments out of landfills,” said Erin Booker, event chairperson. “It was started for students who couldn’t afford the expense of prom.”
Creators of FB group discover the riches of buying nothing
By: Kristin Lems
Evanston couple to host Chicago holiday donation shopping event where everything is free
By: ABC7 Chicago Digital Team
CHICAGO (WLS) -- There will be a holiday shopping event Saturday on the North Side where everything is free!
It is called "Buy Nothing Evanston" which was created with the goal of building a better Chicago by attempting to keep gently used clothes and toys out of landfills. This started as a Facebook group, created by Erin and Ellis Booker, which has since grown to 4,500 members.
Ellis Booker joined ABC7 to share more about this free holiday pop-up.
Buy Nothing Holiday Pop-Up Shop In Evanston
By: Ji Suk Yi & Sarah Jindra
Facebook group called “Buy Nothing Evanston” is hosting their first annual Buy Nothing Holiday pop-up event. Everything in the store will be free for shoppers! Joining us now to chat all about their efforts to keep reusable items out of the landfills is founder of the Facebook group and Evanston resident- Ellis Booker.
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