This spring, Middlesex Community College will debut the Free Pop-up Shop featuring professional clothing for students. Led by a sub-committee team on the college’s Strategic Leadership Council (SLC), the goal is to empower students to feel more confident and comfortable as they proceed into an internship or the workforce.
“We’re thrilled to bring MCC’s Free Pop-up Shop to the Lowell campus and provide our students with professional clothes to get them interview and work ready,” said Allison Chambers, MCC’s Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer. “In addition to our staff and faculty on the SLC team, we’ve had incredible engagement from students who have helped make the shop possible. From organizing clothes to sharing their perspectives, this shop is made for and by our students to create an accessible space for them to access the resources they need to be successful.”
As part of the committee, MCC partnered with the Wish Project to run a campus clothing
drive at the start 
of 2025. Students – including those in the fashion merchandising and business programs
– then sorted through donations to offer Middlesex students a variety of clean and
lightly used clothes.
“I love clothes, and to know that this is for a good cause makes it all the more worthwhile,” said Prima Nsibambi, an MCC business administration student of Dracut. “I feel that my leadership skills have been put to use, but also the opportunity to work with such a great team has been enriching – hearing different ideas and perspectives and recognizing everyone's strengths and working with that.”
“I thought it would be an amazing opportunity to collaborate with students to create something amazing and be able to give back to the rest of the students,” said Roman Cortes, an MCC liberal arts and sciences student from Lowell. “I’ve learned how to reach out for help if I needed it, give creative ideas in a workplace setting, and have my voice heard. Getting the chance to connect with my classmates who also worked on this project with me and being able to turn this moment into one that other students is one I won’t be able to forget!”
The students helped find and organize clothes that are within current styles of the past few years and appropriate for a variety of settings, including job interviews, work and internship experiences, and conferences. Blazers and sport jackets, blouses and sweaters, dress shirts and pants, dresses and skirts, and dress shoes will all be available at the pop-up shop.
“We felt it was important to get some of our students involved in the process to truly make it a space for our students,” said Ashli Ree, MCC’s Professor and Program Coordinator of Fashion Merchandising. “We wanted to create both a shopping-like experience and a welcoming atmosphere that would attract all students.”
Having appropriate professional clothing leads to more successful interviews and careers. By attending the pop-up shop, students can save money and add signature pieces to their collection, according to Noreen Fantasia, MCC’s Coordinator of Office of Career Integrated Learning.
“Every student deserves the chance to make a great first impression – and part of that impression is dressing for success,” Fantasia said. “Having access to professional attire helps individuals feel confident and prepared, whether they're heading into an interview, giving a presentation, or attending a networking event. The donations we've received have been incredible, and we’re so excited for students to have the opportunity to choose clothing that empowers them with confidence!”
MCC’s Free Pop-up Shop will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, April 28 to Friday, May 2 in the Lowell Cowan Center Room 214. For more information, email Fantasia.