LPO, senior center team up on thrift store

SANDPOINT - Bucking the recent trend of business closures, Lake Pend Oreille Alternative High School is taking the plunge next month when, in conjunction with the Sandpoint Senior Center, it opens its own thrift store.

The store, called 2nds Anyone?, will sell everything from clothing to furniture to books and games and will be staffed by LPO students and volunteers from the senior center.

Made possible by a $15,000 grant from the Ambrosiani Pastore Foundation and a donation of fixtures from Coldwater Creek worth as much as $30,000, the store's proceeds will go toward scholarships and educational materials for LPO students.

While store organizers hope 2nds Anyone? will be a financial hit, it was also created to help educate students about what it takes to open and maintain a viable business, said LPO's Colleen Ross.

"It's like an internship. It's actually going to give them work experience, which a lot of them don't get because either they can't drive or are unable to gain employment for other reasons," Ross said "This will teach them people skills, work skills, responsibility and what it's like to start a business from the ground up."

The idea for the thrift store was borrowed from a Spokane high school, which has successfully operated its own store for years. The twist, according to Ross, was bringing in the senior center, which lost its own thrift store several years ago.

"The senior center has been great so we thought, since their store got closed down, lets bring them aboard for ours," Ross said.

Ross said the store is still looking for donations, including a steamer, washer and dryer and large storage containers. To donate, contact Ross at 263-6121.

Located at 101 N. Boyer Ave., 2nds Anyone? will celebrate its grand opening Oct. 3-4. Store hours will be Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.