In one year, Big Sky’s ‘life-changing’ thrift store is already making its mark
By Jack Reaney ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Big Sky Thrift opened on Dec. 6, 2022. In the year since, more than 100 volunteers have operated the nonprofit shop. In December 2023, Big Sky Thrift was able to award $75,000 in grants to 10 local nonprofits. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $20,000.
In its next grant cycle, May 2024, the thrift will award another $82,500 in grants to nonprofits not included in the first award cycle.
The first-year grant total of $157,500 comes directly from secondhand goods sales, according to Emily Burke, associate director of programs for the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation—Big Sky Thrift is a YCCF-funded initiative.
“Whether you shop, donate or volunteer at the thrift, it all stays in our town,” Burke told EBS in a phone call. “And it’s all equal… It’s a mix of every [demographic] and that’s why it’s working so well.”
Lone Mountain Land Company donates the commercial space—waiving the rent—which allows store revenue to feed almost completely back to the community, Burke said.
The thrift’s first 10 nonprofit grants were voted on by more than 65 store volunteers, with a focus on capital items such as food donation barrels for the Big Sky Community Food Bank, a new building security system for Morningstar Learning Center and art supplies for the Arts Council of Big Sky, Burke explained.
The first cycle awarded the following grant amounts: $20,000 to Big Sky SNO; $10,000 to the Arts Council, Eagle Mount and Morningstar; $5,000 to Big Sky Futbol Club, Gallatin River Task Force, Big Sky Bravery and Warren Miller Performing Arts Center; and $2,500 to the food bank and Big Sky Christian Fellowship.
EBS reached out to grant recipients via email for comment.
“We are so incredibly grateful to the Big Sky Thrift not only for this generous grant, but also for turning their success into an opportunity to reinvest in our community,” wrote Mariel Butan, executive director of Morningstar Learning Center. The grant will help MLC upgrade its campus security, helping parents “go to work supporting our community with greater peace of mind.”
Scott Larson added gratitude on behalf of the Big Sky Christian Fellowship, which will use the money to provide a resource list—including the Skyline Bus schedule, Wellness In Action clinic hours and AA support groups—to seasonal workers. The resource list will be printed on the labels of more than 1,000 cookies from Uncle Dan’s and provided to those workers.
The Arts Council of Big Sky will use its grant to buy art supplies and continue offering contribute-what-you-can community art classes.
“Because of the Big Sky Thrift grant, the contribute-what-you-can fee structure will stay in place for 2024, making the classes accessible for the entire community,” wrote Julie Edwards, education director. “On behalf of everyone in our community, our gratitude runs deep.”
Gallatin River Task Force will use the grant to expand its water education programming, from schools and summer camps to community events. Chief Executive and Science Officer Kristin Gardner wrote that as neighbors—GRTF has an office in the same building—Big Sky Thrift’s positive impact is clear.
“Education plays a fundamental role in increasing stewardship of our community’s water resources,” Gardner wrote.
With new donation barrels for the Big Sky Community Food Bank, Director Sarah Gaither Bivins hopes to see more donations of unused, unopened groceries from visitors and community members to increase the food bank’s volume and variety of goods and keep viable food out of the waste stream.
“We are so thankful for the great service the thrift provides for our Big Sky Community, and for this extra grant money to support our programs,” Bivins wrote.
Eagle Mount will purchase another adaptive sit ski in a new size and style, allowing new participants to learn and grow their skills. The organization facilitates more than 750 volunteers per year, and “impacts community fluency and actionable steps toward disability and inclusion,” according to Anna Smoot, grants administrator.
“Eagle Mount strives to offer everyone the opportunity to take part in a lesson, regardless of the challenges they may face… Eagle Mount is honored to be a part of this grant cycle and a grateful for the much-needed equipment it will provide,” Smoot wrote.
Jeremy Keller, chief program officer for Big Sky Bravery, wrote that the grant will allow the organization to secure children’s ski gear—since March of 2023, the organization has been focusing on incorporating the families of active-duty special operations forces veterans into programming.
“We had a gap in the clothing for children as our current suite was aimed toward adults. But with [Big Sky Thrift’s] help and this grant we will be able to outfit the children,” Keller wrote.
No sign of slowing
Burke pointed out that great donations don’t just come from private club members—some do, but quality goods also come from local gear heads and general members of the community.
Burke is proud of her many volunteers, and said the thrift is always looking for more. A new shift is now available from 4 to 6 p.m., and all opportunities are available online through Volunteer Big Sky. The store will look to maintain hours Wednesday through Saturday, from 12 to 6 p.m., with a short “May away” spring break for volunteers.
“Big Sky Thrift has been life changing, not only to myself and my career, but I think to our community as well,” Burke said. “I think the thrift has been life-changing for our town.”
With the construction of RiverView Apartments beside the thrift store, Burke expects to see “a major increase in sales.” However, most of the RiverView tenants will be targeting life essentials—linens, dining and cooking ware, and seasonal clothing—more than Big Sky Thrift’s luxury items and brand-name sporting goods. While revenue might not increase in stride with volume of sales, the shop will be filling an important role.
“We’re just going to have more people in an even-closer walking distance,” Burke said.
Local nonprofit organizations that did not receive a grant in December will be eligible to apply for the spring grant cycle at bigskythrift.com. Burke expects those $82,500 in allocations to be finalized in June.
