Not your average thrift store

Little Bitterroot is finding creative ways to keep their clients employed and funds in their pocket this year while simultaneously helping those in the community. 

After opening another thrift store in Plains this past May, with another store in Thompson Falls, Little Bitterroot is also going into the tree selling business to make extra money in order to push through the tough economic times. 

This past fall, Little Bitterroot decided to start buying trees from Plum Creek nursery in Pablo and then sell them to people who would be interested in sending them out as gifts.  Although they started the project this past fall, Carol Dossett, the Director of Service at Little Bitterroot, said it is only now starting to really get off the ground.

“They come in as a package and you get a postcard in the mail that says someone bought you a tree.  We’re always trying to find another thing to do and the trees were an opportunity to expand into something else,” said Dossett.  There are six different trees people can choose from that come in a dirt cylinder and are six to eight inches tall. 

Little Bitterroot is a private, nonprofit organization that provides full service to adult clients who have developmental disabilities.  The majority of their funding comes from the state government as part of the Developmental Disability division.  Although the majority of their funds come from the government, there is always the possibility that funding can be cut, especially when the economy has taken a plunge. 

Dossett said they always try to prepare for things and set up things such as the thrift store and the new tree selling project to stay afloat and be able to pay their clients and staff. 

Dossett said they were in the midst of creating the new thrift store in Plains located on Lynch Street when the economy started taking a hit and hoped that they were heading in the right direction.  She said their theory was that the economy would help stimulate their thrift stores because if people do not have extra money they will start shopping at cheaper locations. 

“We are trying to revamp it (Plains thrift store) and everything is a work in progress and we are going to lower prices and try to figure out how to stay afloat and still give as much benefit to the community,” said Shannon Benson, Director of Operations at Little Bitterroot. “We are sharpening our pencils so to speak.”

Little Bitterroot began in 1973 in a nursing home out of Hot Springs and was dedicated to providing services and work opportunities for adults, ages 18 and older, with developmental disabilities.  Since it began, the organization has grown immensely as it began with five clients and now has 31 along with a 31-person staff.

“Basically we are a full service for individuals with disabilities, so we have businesses that give our clients work,” said Dossett who added that they are county wide and work with clients all the way to the county borders. 

Dossett said the biggest stress at her job comes every two years when the state legislature decides the budget, but feels they are prepared to supplement any budget cuts with money made at their thrift stores and through the tree selling. 

“We can’t meet what we are supposed to be providing to our clients and keeping our staff basically with what (the state government) gives us, so that’s a difficult issue in itself and I think it’s going to get worse,” said Dossett.

Despite the budget pressures, Dossett and Benson mutually agreed upon their fondness for their job. 

“I feel like I woke up wanting to come to work for 20 years,” said Dossett.

Benson said everyday is different with her job at Little Bitterroot and her and Dossett are constantly coming up with new projects. 

Little Bitterroot also had their first ever bake sale on December 12, which Dossett said was a huge success.

“It went amazingly well.  It was kind of a fundraiser and bonding for the staff,” said Dossett. 

For more information on sending trees as a gift, please call Carol Dossett at 826-3689.

For comments or questions on this story please email Reporter Danielle Switalski at reporter@VP-MI.com.