Idaho Youth Ranch

For 60 years, the Idaho Youth Ranch has provided opportunities for Idaho’s youth and their families to overcome life’s challenges. That legacy continues in Emmett, where greater community involvement is at the forefront of store operations.

“The Youth Ranch is about kids and we want to support the kids in our community as best we can instapax,” new Store Manager RoxeAnne Crawford said. “We’re looking to be more community involved and visible.”

The Emmett Youth Ranch Store opened its doors in 1994 and has been a mainstay on Main Street with local options for clothing and shoes, furniture, housewares, toys, books, and a variety of other gently-used goods. They celebrated the store’s new Chamber membership with a ribbon cutting on March 5 during the community’s First Wednesday celebration.

“One of the reasons we had our ribbon cutting on First Wednesday is because we’ll be participating in First Wednesday events. We’re going to be involved in Huskie Blue Fridays and we’ll have more participation in Harvest Fest and Cherry Fest,” RoxeAnne said.

Every donation made to the Idaho Youth Ranch, from cash to merchandise, goes toward the non-profit’s mission to serve Idaho youth. There’s the main ranch, located near Rupert, Idaho, where young people benefit from counseling services, animal therapy and classes for drug and alcohol dependency. The Anchor House in Coeur d’Alene is a residential facility for teen boys. The Hays Shelter Home in Boise offers help to runaways, homeless, or victims of abuse or neglect. The organization also provides family counseling, adoption services and family support.

“We’re not just a thrift store. We support and take care of hundreds of kids,” RoxeAnne said.

If you haven’t been to Idaho Youth Ranch’s Emmett store, it’s worth a trip in just to see the floor-to-ceiling bookcases stocked with paperback titles. There’s a room full of furniture and a big selection of housewares. The toy section has been updated and brightened, men’s shoes have been moved to the men’s department, and women’s and children’s clothing and shoe options have expanded. “There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t bring in new items,” RoxeAnne said.

The Emmett store is one of 28 stores in the state. There’s even one in Ontario, Ore., and a second Nampa store in the works. The Emmett store features “two front doors” – one at 129 E. Main St. and one in the back. Hours are Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 365-6493.