Inaugural Move-In Market Attracts Hundreds of Students

At a first-time event in August, the Basic Needs Resource Center provided University of Texas at Dallas students with free essentials for their residences. The Move-In Market event attracted more than 700 students and over a dozen UT Dallas alumni volunteers.

“An hour before we opened, we already had a line of students at the door, and I realized this was going to be bigger than we thought,” said Ryan Short BA’22, assistant director of the Basic Needs Resource Center. “We thought we would have 300 students, and we hit that within the first 45 minutes.”

According to Short, the event attracted so many students that most donated items were gone within an hour and half of the start time. The center encouraged the donation of linens, kitchenware, school supplies, small items of furniture and clothing in the weeks leading up to the market, with many items gifted by University alumni. Most furniture and kitchen items were snatched up within the first hour of the market, Short said.

“I think what made it so popular was just helping students get settled in for the school year,” Short said. “It was our goal to be able to give students those kitchenware and home goods and other items to support them so they could start the semester off strong.”

Short said that inviting alumni to volunteer at the event was a fortunate idea considering the number of students who participated. Many of the volunteers were recent alumni, Short said, but at least one volunteer was a 1985 graduate of UT Dallas.

“This was my first time to volunteer as an alumnus at an event, and I did it because I thought it would be a neat opportunity to help and meet a few students,” Amanda Lanciani BS’99 said. “I really love UTD and value the experiences I have had there. I want it to continue to be a better place for current students year after year!”

Lanciani said she worked setting up tables, moving items from storage, unboxing items and handing out toiletry packs. She said she was amazed by the number of students at the event.

“All in all, it was fun,” she said. “I liked meeting new people, and seeing the long line of students made it worth it all.”

Short said the Basic Needs Resource Center plans to hold the Move-In Market each year just before the fall semester begins and hopes it becomes a popular campus tradition. They added that they would like to make sure alumni continue to be involved.

“In the long term, this is something that I would love to keep in place and to continue to have alumni there to be able to welcome students to campus,” Short said. “Having alumni involved is a cool connection.”