Thrift Store Proceeds Help 31 Highlands Area Non-Profits

PRESS RELEASE (07-24-2024)

MOUNTAIN FINDINGS 

Thrift Store Proceeds Help 31 Highlands Area Non-Profits

Mountain Findings, Highlands’ Community Thrift Store, distributed $369,000 this week to 31 non-profit organizations serving the needs of the Plateau.  Earlier this year, another $50,000 of the store’s earnings went for scholarships for graduating seniors at Highlands High School.   Taken together, these contributions represent 90 percent of the store’s 2024 earnings. 

With no payroll or mortgage, Mountain Findings’ 65 volunteers turned their sweat equity into grants that strengthen the Highlands-Cashiers, NC community, especially for the economically distressed or disadvantaged, including animals.

“We receive hundreds of lightly used items each week,” says Board President Jill Helmer.  “Our volunteers sort, clean, and price the items quickly and efficiently.  Those items with high appeal are posted to the Mountain Findings Facebook page each Wednesday, showing shoppers what’s available and building excitement for Thursday’s opening.”

Mountain Findings assists organizations in these areas:

• Human welfare
• Youth Enrichment
• ​Conservation and the Environment
• Animal welfare
• Cultural Enrichment
• Civic engagement
• Public Safety
• 
  

The 2024 grant recipients include:

Appalachian Animal Rescue Center

Appalachian Wildlife Refuge

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of WNC

Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic

Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau

Carpe Diem Farms

Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society

Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers

Counseling Center of Highlands

Glenville Cashiers Rescue Squad

Highlands Emergency Council

International Friendship Center

Highlands Historical Society

PAC Educational Theatre

Highlands Plateau Greenway

Highlands School Athletic Booster Club

Highlands School Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Highlands School Parent-Teacher Organization

Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival

Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust

Highlands Cashiers Players

Literacy and Learning Center

Magnolia Mission

Mainspring Conservation Trust

PAWSITIVE Shelter Volunteers of Macon County

Peggy Crosby Community Service Center

REACH of Macon County

Sky Valley-Scaly Mountain Volunteer Fire & Rescue

The Gordon Center for Children

Town of Highlands Recreation Department

Wreaths Across America, Highlands