The Big Sky Project by Lauren Widman

 

    Hi, my name is Lauren. In these past few months, I have embarked on an incredible journey that taught me so many invaluable lessons. In total, I collected 250 warm clothing items from my Florida hometown and donated them to a thrift store in Montana. Here in Florida, we only use warm clothes for a few weeks out of the year, but where my family lives in Western Montana, residents wear these clothes all year. I created The Big Sky Project because I realized that the majority of my closet was composed of sweaters and sweatshirts, which I never get to wear due to the weather. I knew that I was not the only one with this dilemma, so I decided to take action. 

    I received 115 pairs of jeans, 51 jackets, and 84 other clothing items. My goal was to collect 100 pairs of jeans and 20 jackets, and it is safe to say The Big Sky Project was successful. In my hometown of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, I have spent 150+ hours volunteering for my local thrift store. I decided to donate the clothing to the Women in Timber Thrift Store of Superior, Montana, because my grandma had told me about their desire for more donations from the community. Thrift stores do so much more than just sell clothes. They use their profits to provide the community with food, beds, scholarships, and more! Many people around the US rely on their local thrift stores. 

    I reached out to my peers for support and collected so many donations of warm, clean clothing. People gave what they could, whether it was a single pair of jeans or a bag of clothes. While collecting donations, I learned to appreciate the strength of community. The Big Sky Project would not be possible without donors, so thank you to everyone who helped! 

Below, you will see all of my blog posts as I collected donations. I wrote about the benefits of secondhand clothing and shared playlists I created on my YouTube channel, "The Big Sky Project." 

For now, I will stop posting on this blog, but I will be happy to collect donations up until April 15th. It has been such a pleasure to execute The Big Sky Project. I carry with me the lessons I learned over these past few months. Never underestimate the strength of community and the power of small acts of kindness. 

THANK YOU! 

- Lauren

Now enjoy the official blog of The Big Sky Project. :)

250 ITEMS!!!

 I have just returned home from my Spring Break in Montana! When I arrived, my family added some more donations, resulting in a total of 250 donations! Of course, I would be happy to collect more donations, but they will not be delivered until this summer. 

I could not have completed The Big Sky Project without the help of the generous donors. Hand-delivering the clothes to the Women in Timber Thrift Store of Superior, MT was a great experience. The volunteers were so kind. 

Thanks to everyone who supported The Big Sky Project! 

So many donations heading to MT!

 

Here is the complete list of everything donated! Whether you donated jeans, jackets, t-shirts, blankets, shoes, or more, every single thing will be appreciated by residents of Western Montana. We have officially surpassed our goals of 100 pairs of jeans and 20 jackets! 

Even though the Big Sky Project is coming to an end soon, be sure to support your local thrift stores and donate as often as you can! If you can't donate clothes or money, donate your time. So many thrift stores need volunteers to ensure that they can keep everything organized while helping their community!

Thank you for 230 donations!

 

230 DONATIONS!!!!!

This would not be possible without such generous donors. This passion project means so much to me, so for you guys to help this cause fills me with so much joy. 

Today, I stayed true to my promise and bought an additional 15 pairs of jeans. Tomorrow, I will travel up North to deliver my donations to the Women in Timber Thrift Store of Superior, MT!

If you have not donated yet, I will accept donations until April 15. 

47 Days Left of The Big Sky Project!

 

Let the countdown begin! We need 4 more pairs of jeans to reach our goal. I believe we can get this done by the end of the week! I am so happy to be a part of such a supportive community. 

If you have clothes to donate and are in the Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach, or Destin area, I would be glad to meet you somewhere and pick up your donations! If you are unable to donate, feel free to share this project with friends and family. 

The only two categories of clothing I set goals for were jeans and jackets. Since January 15, we have more than doubled our jacket goal, and are 4 pairs away from reaching the jeans goal. Just because I set goals on two types of clothing doesn't mean that you can't donate other types of clothes! Everything that is clean and in good condition will be very appreciated by residents of Western Montana. 

As a reminder, we are donating all articles of clothing to the Women in Timber Thrift Store of Superior, Montana. Many people across the country rely on low-priced clothing at thrift stores. Women in Timber is special because not only do they sell their clothes at a very low price, but they take their earnings and spend it on food for their community. 

I'm glad to support such a great cause, and I hope you are too! Thank you to everyone who has donated thus far. The Big Sky Project would not be possible if it weren't for generous donors.

2/25/24 Update Video

 

Here is the most recent video on my YouTube channel! YouTube is a great way for me to post videos and make playlists, as it is compatible with Blogger. Look for more shorts and videos from me on there! 

This video is from yesterday, but since then, someone has donated a few pieces. Now, we are only 10 pairs of jeans from reaching our goal. YAY! This wouldn't be possible without you. 

YouTube Playlists Worth Watching

 

I have compiled some videos on my YouTube channel "The Big Sky Project." The links are listed below. 

Environmental Impacts

How to Thrift

Montana Travel

NAT GEO: Montana

History of Montana

These videos do a great job of describing the key aspects of The Big Sky Project: environmental impacts, Montana towns/travel, history, and thrifting. 

(disclaimer: These videos are not mine. All rights belong to the creators of the videos. Videos may contain mature language and topics.)

Why is it called "The Big Sky Project?"

 

Just as Florida is nicknamed "The Sunshine State," Montana is called "Big Sky Country" and "The Treasure State." According to Legal Planet, "Big Sky Country" originated in 1962 and was created by the Montana State Highway Department. When I think of Montana's landscape, I think of the song by the Chicks, "Wide Open Spaces." At times, you look out into the horizon and see nothing but rolling hills, grass, and very distant mountains. 

One of my family's favorite things to do in Montana is hike! Our favorite national parks are Glacier National Park and Yellowstone national park. We hike as much as we can, whether it is at one of these parks, or if it is by my grandmother's house in St. Regis, Montana. Glacier has extremely dramatic, beautiful views of sharp mountains. I would say that Yellowstone is more spacious and open. Yellowstone has gorgeous waterfalls and geysers! Seeing Old Faithful was an unforgettable experience. Our favorite hikes that we have done are the Iceberg Lake hike, the Missoula Lake hike, and the Avalanche Lake hike. 

On our countless hikes, I could tell that Montana is called "Big Sky Country" for a reason. As far as I could see, there was nothing but stunning nature. After these experiences, my brain automatically associated Montana with this nickname. 

The Big Sky Project was created for the purpose of giving residents of Montana affordable, quality clothing at a low price. On this blog, I have a post that explains the benefits of second-hand clothing. Every item donated is clean and in good condition. A considerable amount of the donations I have received still have the tags on them. 

We are 20 pairs of jeans away from reaching our goal! Even after we reach our goal (which I know we will meet soon!) , I will continue to accept donations until April 15th, 2024. If we reach our goal of 100 pairs of jeans, I will go buy 15 pairs to add to the donations. I will also try to buy some baby and children's warm clothing. So far, we have not had to pay for shipping because I have sent the clothes up with my family to be dropped off. 

Thank you to everyone who has donated! After more than one month of running this project, I have been so pleased with the kindness and generosity of everyone who has donated. This mission is SO important to me. I cannot express how awesome it is to be able to do something like this. 

To donate, contact Lauren Widman at lcwidman17@gmail.com. If you are unable to donate, please share this blog with a friend or family member. :)

Benefits/Importance of Second-Hand Clothing

 

If you have read this blog before, you know that I love thrift stores! Here in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, my favorite stores are Goodwill and Caring and Sharing of South Walton. I have gained around 130 volunteer hours at Caring and Sharing, and I plan to get more. This thrift store directly benefits my community, so I love to help them out as much as I can. My favorite parts are building friendships with volunteers and organizing food and clothing donations. If you want, you can read about this amazing thrift store by clicking on this link: https://caringandsharingsowal.org/ Anyways, when I am not volunteering there, I am shopping! Both Goodwill and Caring and Sharing have great, affordable prices for their clothes.

Here are some reasons why thrifting and second-hand clothing are great: 

- ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: You can reuse and recycle pre-owned clothing! This leads to less waste on our planet. 

- BETTER PRICES: If you want quality clothing at a low price, thrift stores are for you!

- SELF-EXPRESSION: Thrift stores have something for everyone! Many different types of people donate clothes, so expect many different colors, sizes, and styles. 

- COMMUNITY: Many thrift stores directly benefit the town in which they are based. Spending money at these stores allows them to help the underprivileged. 

- ETHICS: Many big clothing companies today use fast fashion. These companies overwork employees, use child labor, and harm the environment. 

******Even though the prices may be cheaper, consider where you buy your clothes. So many companies today use fast fashion, even if it is harmful. To learn more, read https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/fast-fashion-brands-to-avoid.******

All donations go to the Women in Timber Thrift Store of Superior, Montana. Even though I do not live in Montana, this thrift store is very important to my family and I. Women in Timber has struggled to gather donations, and us Floridians have winter clothes that we do not use! This is the reason that The Big Sky Project was created. Thank you to everyone who has donated!

WE ARE SO CLOSE!!!

 

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far! Thanks to YOU we are only 20 pairs of jeans away from reaching our goal of 100! Every single article of clothing is going to The Women in Timber Thrift Store of Superior, Montana. Know that your donation will make a difference. This project directly benefits the residents of Western Montana. I could not thank you enough. Remember, if we meet our goal of 100 pairs of jeans, I pledged to buy 15 pairs of jeans and donate them to The Big Sky Project! This project ends on April 15th, so be sure to donate before then. If you cannot donate, feel free to inform a friend or family member about this passion project. 

Superior, Montana (YouTube: Main Street Montana)

 

All donations will go to the Women in Timber Thrift Store in Superior, Montana. NBC Montana has a great article on this thrift store- https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/superior-thrift-store-in-need-of-donations. In summary, the news article states that the money generated from Women in Timber goes to feeding between 125-180 families, as of 2021. They have struggled to collect donations since the Coronavirus pandemic. My grandma loves visiting Women in Timber- she is the one who recommended this thrift store to me. They are the perfect fit for the Big Sky Project!

Anyways, I found a video on YouTube made by Main Street Montana, titled "Superior, Montana." It is a video of someone driving through the town, just so you can have an idea of the town you are donating to!

A little something extra...

Just checking in! We have not yet reached our goal of 100 pairs of jeans, but that is okay! I am collecting donations until April 15th, as you know. Because we reached our goal of 20 jackets in such a short amount of time, I decided to take in other types of donations, such as sweaters, t-shirts, shackets, shoes, etc. Of course, I am still taking jacket donations! When it comes to donations, bigger is better! 

Once again, thank you to EVERYONE who has donated to the Big Sky Project! The thrift store we are partnered with will make use of every single article of clothing. 

One more thing...

If we make our goal of 100 pairs of jeans, I vow to buy 15 pairs of jeans from the store and add those to the donations! :)

Make a difference with your donation!

Thank you so much to everyone who donated! There is still time to reach our goal of 100 pairs of jeans. If you are unable to donate, share this project with your friends and family. 

Donations will go to a thrift store in Western Montana- anything you can donate is appreciated! Thanks again. 

2 Week Check-In

 

After 2 weeks, we have collected 73 pairs of jeans, 31 jackets, 5 pairs of shoes, 2 vests, 4 sweaters, 9 shirts, and 10 accessories. I would like to personally thank all donors for their generosity and willingness to donate to this cause. Every donation counts! 

If you have not yet donated, contact lcwidman17@gmail.com. I will pick up your donations if you live in the Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach, and Destin areas. If not, we will figure something out! If you are unable to donate, help by informing friends and family about this project! 

My goal is to have 100 pairs of jeans and 20 jackets by April 15th, but it is looking like we will meet this goal in no time. We have already met the jacket goal, and we only need 27 more pairs of jeans. I believe we can do it! This drive is open until April 15th- I will continue to collect donations after we reach our goal.

As stated in the video, I have sent my first shipment of clothes to Western Montana with my grandfather. The clothes will reach MT in 4 days! The next shipment of clothes leaves in early March. 

Thank you, again. :)

Off to a good start!

 

We are starting off strong with 6 jackets/hoodies and 14 jeans! 

If you have any jeans and jackets to donate, email lcwidman17@gmail.com. I will come pick up your winter clothes if you live in the Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach, and Destin areas! Let your friends and family know about The Big Sky Project. Thank you!

Thank you for your donations!

 

The Big Sky Project is off to a great start! Thank you for donating your jeans and jackets to an amazing cause... your donations are so appreciated! 

To donate, please email lcwidman17@gmail.com. Share this blog with friends and family!

The Big Sky Project Starts Today! Donate now through April 15th.

 

Florida ---> Montana

    When you donate your winter clothes in the Destin, Miramar Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach areas, they will end up in Superior and St. Regis, Montana! Starting January 15th, I will collect your donations and they will end up across the country. 

    Gather those Winter clothes (Jeans & Jackets) from your closet and email lcwidman17@gmail.com. I will come to you/meet you somewhere to collect the donations. I can assure you that these warm clothes will be very appreciated up North! If you are unable to donate, tell a friend about this passion project of mine! 

    Thank you so much. :)

Why I started this passion project...

 

    I have always loved thrift stores- who doesn't? If there is a thrift store near me, I have to check it out. I share this appreciation of thrift stores with my grandma, who lives in Western Montana. Her favorite thrift store in Superior, Montana could always use more donations, as quite a few children and families depend on these discounted clothing items. Western Montana is cold all year round, so residents require warm clothes to stay safe and healthy. Even if it is a warm summer day, the temperature significantly drops at night. 

    Living in the Florida panhandle, I break out my warm clothes 3-4 weeks out of the year, if that. I know many friends and family members do the same. For most of the year, my winter clothes are unworn and sitting in the back of my closet. 

    I spend quite a bit of time in St. Regis, Montana, as this is where some of my family lives. This town feels like a second home to me. I started this passion project to ensure that children, women, and men have a wide selection of appropriate winter clothing at an affordable price. 

    If you are able, please consider contacting lcwidman17@gmail.com to donate some of your winter clothing items that aren't put to use. All sizes are appreciated: children, men, women, etc. When you donate your jeans and jackets to The Big Sky Project, you are making someone in Western Montana very happy. If you are unable to make a donation, consider sharing this project with a friend. I appreciate it!  

    Let's reach our goal of 100 pairs of jeans and 20 jackets by April 15th! 

Start and End Dates! Let's reach our goal of 100 pairs of jeans and 20 jackets by April 15th, 2024!

 

Goals Checklist!

If you have any jackets or pairs of jeans that you don't wear, don't hesitate to contact me and I will pick up your donation! This applies to Destin, Miramar Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach areas only! If you have clothes to donate but you are not close by, email me (lcwidman17@gmail.com) and we will figure something out. Any jackets & jeans in good condition are appreciated. Thank you all- I know that we can make this goal! :)

Contact Information (Email Only!)

 

Clear some closet space and donate your winter clothes to a good cause!

 

Big Things Coming

Looking for a place to donate jeans and jackets? Look no further! More information to come. :)