This story by Sol del Valle Editor Bianca Godina was translated from Spanish to English.
Lift-Up has dedicated the past four months preparing for the reopening of its thrift store. Last Saturday, Oct. 19, First Street in Parachute was adorned with red, white and black for the inauguration of Lift-Up’s third thrift store in the Valley.
Festivities began on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting, celebrated with the Colorado River Valley Chamber of Commerce. On Saturday, the doors were opened to the public after nearly four years, during which the space was used as a warehouse for their Rifle and Glenwood Springs branches, and for the past 18 months as a food pantry.
Lift-Up has served the community for 42 years, originating from the well-known “Black Sunday,” when Exxon closed its oil shale industry, severely impacting the population of Rifle. Over time, Lift-Up has expanded its work to serve the entire community, from Parachute to Aspen, through its six food pantries and now three thrift stores.
“We are delighted to be back in the community we serve, not only with food but also with a resource that covers many other needs,” said Ivan Jackson, executive director of Lift-Up.
Jackson expressed that his enthusiasm was divided into three main aspects. The first is the reopening of a well-known and appreciated resource by the Parachute community, after its closure during the pandemic. The second is that profits generated by the thrift stores are directed toward Lift-Up’s main mission: combating necessities and food insecurity.
Finally, he highlighted the importance of contributing to waste reduction, “giving a second life to high-quality items that may no longer work or simply don’t fit anymore,” said Jackson.
He also invited the community to donate items in good condition, such as clothing, household items and soft furnishings like pillows or blankets. Donations are accepted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm. Outside of those hours, donations are not accepted to avoid inconvenience.
Cierra Kelly, manager of the Parachute branch, and Graham Ward, director of operations, invited the community to visit the store. Kelly stated: “My goal is to offer good quality items to our customers and continue supporting the community.” She added, “Parachute really needed this.”
Ward explained that each thrift store has its own vibe and mission since they serve different regions of the community. “But in all of them, you’ll have a good time while finding quality items at a good price.”
Finally, Ward expressed his satisfaction. “It’s incredible to see how this place went from being a thrift store to a warehouse, and now back to being a store. It’s exciting to see how the cycle has come full-circle.”
Lift-Up’s thrift stores are open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. For more information about the stores or food distribution centers, visit www.liftup.org
