PROGRESS: CAL marks 20 years of treasures and teamwork

The biggest news from Sandpoint's Community Assistance League is Bizarre Bazaar’s 20th anniversary as a upscale resale store. What began as a rummage sale over 40 years became a retail store in Ponderay 2006 still run solely by volunteers.  We moved from our best-known location on Church Street (2008-2024) a year and a half ago and sales and proceeds have been higher than projected.

Shoppers: We’ve seen lots of new customers and even more repeat customers. People seem to be spending more money locally. Thank you. Customers tell us they love special events based on season, holiday, or overstock of particular donation categories — and our anniversary.

Donations: Thanks to the generosity of the community, we receive a steady flow of lightly used treasures. Jewelry is always appreciated, even if broken since we have a artistically talented volunteer. We welcome decorative items ("dust collectors"), grandma's pretty linens hiding away at the bottom of that drawer and small items of furniture. Women's and men's clothes run off the racks. Grandmothers china? Not so much. Our experienced pass-on team takes items we can’t use to the appropriate organization, giving each donation the best chance for another home.

Volunteers: Our volunteers range from a core group of team leads and managers to those who work once a month, to the snowbirds only working in the summer. “I sit and price new donations in the back and I love it when a customer wanders in. We, jokingly, invite them to iron or repair. It’s a lot of fun,” says Jan Harrison, pricer extraordinaire. “BizBaz is a great place to meet people and learn something new.” 

The State of Books: With the closing of Corner Books, the only used bookstore in Sandpoint, our Books department has seen an uptick in donations and shoppers. Steve Garvin, who heads that department, has reconfigured and reorganized the department to make it easier to find the sections of interest and showcase special treasures.

Grants and Scholarships: We are just receiving the grants and scholarship requests for 2026, so it’s too early to understand the trends. Our ability to give has continued to be over $200,000 even after the move, thanks to donors, volunteers, and shoppers.

Heading into the 26-27 season, we plan to continue listening to feedback from the community and curating treasures for your delight. Come join us in whatever capacity works for you. 

Kathryn Larson is a member of the Community Assistance League.