THE APEX TIMES
Memories Thrift and Vintage Market in Garrard County raises funds for Hopeful Farm Foundation
A northern Garrard County mother-daughter team says their thrift store model has become a steady source of support for families affected by special needs, through donated and curated items and community drop-offs.
A thrift store in northern Garrard County is raising money for a local nonprofit that supports families impacted by special needs, according to LEX 18. The store, Memories Thrift and Vintage Market, opened last August, and its operators say proceeds are directed to the Hopeful Farm Foundation.
The store is run by a mother-daughter duo, Claire Crosby and her mother, Jill Novak. Crosby told LEX 18 that the thrift business connects to their family’s long-running interest in antiques, vintage items, and thrifting, and that the idea for the shop came from conversations within their household about building an outlet that would benefit the foundation.
Crosby said the foundation was shaped by the birth and death of her brother, Nicholas, who was born with Trisomy 13 and lived for a week. LEX 18 reported that Crosby described the period as pivotal in her life, and she said she decided early that she wanted to help families who are affected by special needs.
According to LEX 18, items sold at the thrift store are donated or curated, with funds going to Hopeful Farm Foundation. The store also draws community sellers and shoppers, including at least one local resident who said she began as a customer before becoming a contributor. LEX 18 described Suzy Bourland as initially searching for jars for her terrariums, then being encouraged by Novak to bring more items to sell at the shop.
Bourland told LEX 18 that she makes terrariums and looks for specific jars, including lids and clear containers to let sunlight in near a window. She said the effort has personal meaning to her because her nephew has special needs and “can’t even talk,” adding that the connection makes it feel worthwhile to know that what she sells helps others.
As the store continues operating, the foundation’s supporters are using the thrift store approach as a bridge between everyday shopping and financial help for families facing special needs. LEX 18 reported that the cause is also personal to the operators’ family, and that Crosby’s and Novak’s involvement includes both the fundraising mechanics and the community relationships formed through donations and sales.
The next steps for the effort depend on continued inventory donations, customer traffic, and ongoing community engagement. While LEX 18 did not provide additional financial totals or reporting cadence, the store’s operating model indicates that ongoing sales and donations will remain the primary drivers for transferring support to the Hopeful Farm Foundation.
Why It Matters
- The thrift store provides an ongoing, local fundraising channel for a special-needs support foundation rather than a one-time charity event.
- Because the store opened last August and continues operations, its impact depends on sustained community donations and sales, which ties fundraising to everyday household resources.
- The family-driven origin story described by Crosby highlights why the nonprofit’s mission centers on supporting families dealing with special needs, potentially improving trust and continuity for contributors.
- Community participation, including residents bringing handmade or donated items, can broaden the number of local people who contribute time and goods to the effort.
- The approach illustrates how small businesses and community retail spaces can create direct financial pathways to nonprofit support within Kentucky counties.
Key Facts
- Memories Thrift and Vintage Market opened in northern Garrard County last August.
- The thrift store raises funds for the Hopeful Farm Foundation, which supports families impacted by special needs.
- Claire Crosby founded the Hopeful Farm Foundation and said her motivation was shaped by her brother Nicholas’s birth with Trisomy 13 and his death after one week.
- The store is operated by Crosby and her mother, Jill Novak.
- LEX 18 reported that items sold at the store are donated or curated and proceeds are directed to the foundation.
- LEX 18 reported that Suzy Bourland, a terrarium maker, began as a shopper and later brought her terrariums to be sold, saying her nephew’s special needs made the effort meaningful.