On Saturday, September 6, 2025, LIFTT celebrated the grand opening of the upLIFTT Thrift Store, and what a day it was! Thanks to the hard work of staff, volunteers, and community members, the event was not only joyful but also a tremendous success.
From the moment the doors opened, shoppers streamed in to browse shelves of household goods and displays of treasures waiting for a second life. The excitement was tangible, and by the end of the day, sales had surpassed expectations. In fact, the store made in one day what had previously taken more than a week to earn. That’s the kind of momentum that tells us the community is ready for upLIFTT.
A Community Effort
The success of the grand opening was built on the generosity and dedication of many. Volunteers gave their personal time to help set up, staff the store, and welcome shoppers. Others baked treats for the bake sale. Special thanks to Theresa, Tanya, Rose, Kelly, Eileen, and Anya for filling the day with homemade goodies that added to the festive atmosphere.
This spirit of giving is exactly what upLIFTT represents: people coming together and creating something that benefits everyone.
More Than a Store
While shoppers walked away with bargains, upLIFTT is about more than resale. It is about sustainability, creativity, and community support. Donations from generous neighbors have already stocked the store with a wide variety of items. And beginning in October 2025, upLIFTT will host upcycling classes on the first Saturday of every month, a fun way to learn new skills and see how everyday items can be transformed into something fresh and useful.
These classes, designed to spark creativity and connection, are just one more way the store will serve as a hub for community engagement.
Why It Matters for LIFTT
Every purchase at the upLIFTT Thrift Store supports LIFTT’s mission of promoting independence and inclusion for people with disabilities across Eastern Montana. The revenue generated will help fund programs, expand services, and keep our commitment strong: that people deserve to live independently and with dignity.
The store is already making a name for itself. Word is spreading, shoppers love what they’re finding, and with continued support, upLIFTT will grow into a steady and vital source of funding for our work.
Stop By and See for Yourself!
If you haven’t visited yet, we invite you to stop by and experience the store firsthand. Whether you’re hunting for a bargain, donating gently used items, or joining one of our upcycling classes. upLIFTT isn’t just a store. It’s a movement of community, creativity, and support for independence.
🛍️ Shop • Donate • Volunteer at upLIFTT
Every purchase supports LIFTT’s mission of independence for people with disabilities in Eastern Montana.
- Shop: Find treasures at great prices.
- Donate: Give gently used items a new life.
- Volunteer: Join the team that makes it all possible.
upLIFTT Thrift is located at 1201 Grand Avenue #1 in Billings, and its regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information about upLIFTT Thrift, our monthly upcycling classes starting October 6, or to arrange to donate your gently used items, contact the store at (406) 534-1147
Come visit us, and be part of something bigger!
About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple or Android Device.
Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.
Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.