By Fischer Genau EDITORIAL INTERN
Big Sky Thrift will donate $64,400 to various local organizations through its latest grant cycle, adding to the $75,000 granted last December to support the Big Sky community.
“These grants are a testament to the hard work and dedication of these organizations in making Big Sky an amazing place to live,” Emily Burke, associate director of programs for the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation—which operates Big Sky Thrift—stated in a press release.
Grants include $50,000 to Riley’s Urgent Fund for Friends (RUFF), $6,400 to the Big Sky Community Organization, and $3,000 to both Ophir elementary and middle schools.
Over 65 volunteers voted to determine how to allocate grant money, all of which comes directly from sales of secondhand goods.
RUFF will use the money to support its animal shelter services, while BSCO is putting grant funding toward supplies for Camp Big Sky, its summer-long camp that offers games, art and outdoor exploration. The money awarded to Ophir Elementary School will help build a new, bigger trout tank that the public can view as students raise trout eggs into fingerlings before releasing them in the spring. Ophir Middle School will use its $3,000 to pay for counseling workbooks for its students, which focus on health and wellness.
“We are honored to support their efforts and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will continue to have on our community,” Burke stated.
Aside from Burke, Big Sky Thrift is entirely volunteer-run, and Lone Mountain Land Company provides commercial space to Big Sky Thrift free-of-charge, allowing more money to be funneled from sales revenue to nonprofits.
“We’re super fortunate that we don’t have to pay rent, so our revenue gets to go back into the Big Sky community,” Burke said on the phone with EBS. “And we really thank all of the volunteers who put in their hard-earned time to make this thrift run.”
Information about Big Sky Thrift’s fall grant cycle will be released in the coming months, and anyone who wants to learn more can visit bigskythrift.com.
