Meadows Valley Thrift Store Celebrates 25th Anniversary

A tidy, well organized shop. Cheery greetings. Regular sales. All of these can be found at the Little School House Thrift Store. Opened on May 19, 2001, the store recently celebrated their 25th anniversary. The community staple was founded out of a desire to create a local resource for those in need and the shop continues to build on that vision.

Currently the store is co-managed by Brenda Burton and Kristi Schiermier. With a volunteer staff of 29 people and a healthy income, Burton said she is proud of the amazing volunteers who keep the store running and have made it a self-sustaining business. Volunteers take in and sort donations, price items and wash or mend items so they can continue being used. Each volunteer is asked to spend a minimum of four hours each month working at the store, but many contribute four times that much or more.

The shop was originally started by local Darcy McDaniel, who now works with the local food bank. McDaniel had a vision to offer local services to those in need after a quest to find social services in New Meadows a few years prior fell flat. McDaniel opened the store and kept a list of community resources available as well as offering store inventory when anyone was in need.

Volunteer and social media manager Kathy Elson found a 2001 Star News article about the store’s grand opening and its history. It can safely be said that the store’s original vision is alive and well. Each year the store gives back to the community and Meadows Valley School by way of both physical and monetary donations. They also participate in school instruction by offering students on the job lessons to help prepare them for future jobs. One student created a volunteer handbook for the store as part of a school project.

In 2025, the store brought in over $37,000 and much of that money returned to the school or local community by way of donations to specific projects. These included art supplies for the school art class, pillows and blankets for the daycare, kids coats, boots, gloves for the YAC after school program, infant clothing to Jamie’s Place, Bingo prize items for the community center and donations to local families in need. Shop sales have also helped this year with classroom supplies, replacing old volleyball and track uniforms, purchasing new record boards for middle and high school track and providing the middle school music program with guitars and tuners. Funds also assist students and local families with clothing for special events and in times of personal need.

Over the years the store has contributed and offered personal shop times to multiple families who lost their homes to fire. They have provided funding for school projects and trips and assisted with finding costumes for a school play. This year they anticipate $40,000 in revenue, which of course will help them do even more good for Meadows Valley.

The layout of the store is intuitive. The building was originally a home, so kitchen supplies are in the kitchen, linens and towels are in the bathroom, men’s and women’s clothes and children’s items are in the bedrooms. The Bargain Barn garage features some larger items like frames and sporting equipment. They even have a “Free Tree” where people can find no-cost treasures. Beautiful vintage items regularly find their way to the store.

For many of the volunteers, the Little School House is not the only place they spend valuable time. They also work across the valley at organizations like Jamie’s Place, McPaws, for the Sleddog Challenge and with Meadows Valley Community Center.

In 2022 when the store was open only once per week, Kristi Schiermeier invited her friends to come help volunteer to support the community, said Brenda Burton. “I have met so many new friends by volunteering at the store,” Burton added. Recently, regular Tuesday volunteer Kathleen Villeneuve moved away. According to a post on the store’s Facebook page, Villeneuve had been the resident puzzle completer, ensuring all pieces were included in donated items. Burton noted Villeneuve worked for many years with Jean Correa who is the longest working volunteer at the store. Friends help make work fun.

The Little School House Thrift Store is located at 400 N. Miller at the corner of Taylor St. in New Meadows. They are open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m..