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University of Montana’s Campus Thrift grows volunteer network, eyes year‑round 'Loop' thrift store
Summary
University of Montana volunteers and the campus sustainability office describe how Campus Thrift — an annual sale that started about 11 years ago to divert student move‑out items from landfill — has grown to dozens of volunteers and is planning a year‑round thrift called the Loop; operations and staffing remain under development.
Jenny, host of Heart of Missoula, interviewed Derek from the University of Montana’s Office of Sustainability about Campus Thrift, the long‑running student move‑out reuse sale that diverts household goods from landfill and raises modest funds for campus sustainability programs.
Derek said Campus Thrift began about 11 years ago when volunteers started collecting items students left during move‑out and selling them at a discounted sale. “We started out with just whoever could kind of show up, you know, maybe 20 people, but now, you know, in more recent years, we get up to 70 volunteers,” Derek said, describing drop‑off stations, sorting and a multi‑day collection window.
The initiative aims to make commonly needed items—towels, twin sheets, coffee makers, small appliances and campus branded clothing—available affordably to students and the broader Missoula community while keeping usable items out of the landfill. Derek said the event typically runs collection over four days and requires volunteers for drop‑off, sorting, setup and takedown.
Organizers also described efforts to create a more closed‑loop system so incoming students can access items when they move in. Derek said the sustainability office has identified on‑campus space for a year‑round thrift operation, which organizers are calling the Loop, but emphasized that operational details remain unsettled: “We do have a space … we just need to figure out how to do the operations, you know, how many days a week it’s going to be open? Who’s going to staff it? How are we going to fund the ability to staff it?”
The sale itself is set up in a campus gym after collection; Derek described a two‑day setup converting an empty gym into a thrift store with many tables and steady turnout on sale day. The sale raises modest revenue that supports campus sustainability programming and helps publicize other zero‑waste initiatives on campus.
Derek said the program has documented its procedures in an operations manual and has shared lessons with peer institutions; he noted Montana State University recently consulted the manual while planning its own event. Organizers said volunteer retention is a strength, with some community volunteers involved since the event’s early years.
For now, the Loop’s opening date and exact operations are not finalized. Derek directed interested volunteers to the University of Montana Sustainability web presence for signups and event dates: search for “University of Montana Sustainability Campus Thrift” to find the volunteer link.
The hosts closed by urging community participation and thanking long‑time volunteers for helping keep Campus Thrift running and expanding its reach.
