University of Montana's Loop Joins Missoula's Thrift Store Scene

Great news, students! An outstanding campus business has thrown their (gently worn) hat into the thrift store ring.

WELCOME TO THE LOOP @ LOMMASSON

UM News Service tells us that the University of Montana’s Office of Sustainability is opening a thrift store to serve the campus community. "The Loop @ Lommasson will open on Monday, Aug. 17, during student move-in.

Inspired by the Office of Sustainability’s annual Campus Thrift event, where students moving out of the residence halls donate their unwanted items for a community sale, The Loop helps keep useful items in circulation and out of the landfill. Reselling donated items from student move-out helps “close the loop” (get it?) with common dorm room items purchased by incoming students year after year.

WHAT SHOPPERS CAN EXPECT

The Loop will have a limited number of mini-fridges, microwaves and other dorm room essentials including bedding, student clothing and other small appliances available on a first-come, first-served basis during move-in day.

The thrift store will also have a selection of career-ready clothing provided by the Griz Career Closet, a collaborative project from UM’s Experiential Learning and Career Success and other campus partners to provide students with professional and business-casual attire for interviews, career fairs, jobs and internships.

HOW THEIR STUFF CAN BECOME YOUR STUFF

During spring move-out, small appliances like microwaves and mini-fridges are often discarded when they don’t fit in a student’s vehicle or they have no use for them. Reselling these items to incoming students reduces the need for new fridges and other resources consumed in manufacturing. It also prevents them from being sent to the landfill, where coolants that should be carefully managed can leak. Repairing and reusing these small appliances helps curb the nearly 6.9 million tons of e-waste produced in the United States each year.

UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA — Ryan Brennecke, UM NEWS SERVICE

WHO CAN MAKE PURCHASES

While intended primarily for students, the new campus thrift store will be open to the whole UM community. A valid Griz Card is required to shop.

The Loop is located in the Lommasson Center at the site of the former Food Zoo dining hall. Visitors should use the Lommasson Center’s south doors to access the space. store will be open to the whole UM community. A valid Griz Card is required to shop.

More information about shopping hours and donations will be available on The Loop's Website.

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Gallery Credit: Stacker