Taking the Discarded & Giving it Purpose
The Good Better Best Shop started as a simple vision. A local teacher, who often used her own funds for classroom materials, dreamed of a way to support educators. The idea was straightforward: collect donations, utilize volunteers, sell the donations, and give the money back to education.
Though the vision began nearly 15 years earlier, the spark came to life in December 2018 with a single $100 bill. That money purchased the first signs and marketing materials.
By January 2019, a group of volunteers began meeting regularly. Later that year, they hosted a pop-up garage sale that raise $1,400. With momentum growing, the group kept meeting monthly and the dream became reality.
On June 4, 2020, under the nonprofit umbrella of the Coach Eby Youth and Family Center, GBB officially opened its doors in the Dally Tire Plaza (our current home).
Growth & Impact
What began as a small test quickly grew into something much bigger. Within just a few months, we had enough funds to give back to our community.
- October 2020: The Children’s Museum of Branch County received our very first grant of $500.
- Today: Grant requests typically range from $7,000-$12,000 each cycle.
- Since opening: We’ve awarded more than $395,000 in grants and scholarships to students, teachers, schools, and organizations across Branch County.
Our Granting Criteria
Every grant we award is guided by three simple questions:
- Is it for Branch County?
- Does it support educational efforts?
- Do we have the funds available?
If the answer is “yes” to all three, the request is granted.
Story Behind the Name
Our name reflects a simple idea: three stores in one.
- Good Shop: Home to well-loved items with a little life left in them, priced at garage-sale levels.
- Better Shop: Where you’ll find quality items with more to use, typically at thrift-store pricing. Most of these treasures are found in our main floor showroom, though some can also be discovered in the Lower Level.
- Best Shop: Located on our main floor showroom, this area features our higher-value items at the best prices, perfect for shoppers seeking something special.
While the spaces aren’t physically separated, the pricing reflects the three-tier concept – ensuring we meet the needs of a wide variety of customer and budgets.
Something for everyone – no matter your style or budget.