Food Bank thrift store has grand opening Thursday

Flathead Food Bank’s new thrift store, Second Helpings, celebrates its grand opening starting at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Lori Botkin, executive director of the food bank, said the event is in conjunction with grand opening celebrations involving the United Way and other organizations at the Gateway Community Center (formerly Gateway West Mall).

Botkin said Thursday marks the date of the second anniversary of the Flathead Food Bank moving into the community center building.

“We’re working really, really hard to get everything stocked up for Thursday,” Botkin said. “We can’t wait for everyone to come down and see us.”

Located next door to the food bank in the former Corral West spot, Second Helpings was created to provide a stable source of income to operate the food bank. Food banks across Montana suffered a financial blow this year when the state Legislature cut funding for collective food purchases.

In response, the food bank board of directors decided last summer to open a thrift store and was soon inundated with donations of clothing, household goods, books and other typical secondhand items. Different from other thrift stores, Second Helpings uses mainly standard pricing, meaning every item within a category has one price no matter the condition or original price.

Some sample prices are:

•  Denim jeans: $4.

•  T-shirts: $1.

•  Dress shirts & blouses: $3.

•  Shoes: $3.

Botkin said people have responded positively to that concept.

She added that visitors during a soft (unannounced) opening also said the store was clean, bright and had no used-goods smell.

Second Helpings will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.