09/02/2026
Swmo Thrift: More Than Thrift
Clothes, decor, home goods, books, furniture and tools are just a few of the things you’ll find while walking through SWMO Thrift. But beyond the shelves and the ever changing selection, you’ll find something even more valuable. A place where people come together, friendships are made and helping others is at the heart of everything they do.
It’s amazing to see how much the store has grown over the past couple of years. What started with humble expectations has grown into something far greater than store manager Tabetha Cooper ever imagined.
“It’s been unexpected. It exceeded my expectations,” Cooper said.
SWMO Thrift doesn’t just attract customers from the local community. Visitors travel from across the region and beyond, with shoppers coming from Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, and other areas to see what the store has to offer.
One of the things that makes SWMO Thrift unique is the sense of community that develops inside its walls.
“Customers come in as strangers and leave as friends,” Cooper said. “We have customers who become friends and start thrifting together. We even have groups who come in wearing matching shirts just to shop our huge Christmas selection.”
And SWMO Thrift has become more than a place to shop. The store has hosted two weddings, game nights, craft nights, and other gatherings, creating memories that extend far beyond a typical shopping experience.
Cooper is quick to give credit to the people who help make it all possible.
“If it wasn’t for our workers and volunteers who show up daily, we couldn’t do what we do,” Cooper said.
For Tabetha, serving others isn’t simply something she decided to do. It has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. She grew up helping both sets of her grandmothers with nonprofit work beginning in 1992. As the youngest of six children, Cooper experienced firsthand what it was like to grow up without having everything she wanted or needed, giving her an understanding of just how important community resources can be for people going through difficult times.
“Helping others is in my blood,” Cooper said.
That passion is evident in the way she approaches SWMO Thrift. What may look like a thrift store to some is, to Cooper, another opportunity to serve, encourage, and make a difference in someone’s life.
Above all, Cooper credits her faith for the journey.
“God has been so good to us,” Cooper said. “He has blessed this store beyond what I ever expected, and I’m thankful for every person who has walked through these doors, whether they came to shop, donate, volunteer, or simply be part of what we’re doing.”
SWMO Thrift is a reminder that sometimes the greatest things grow from the smallest beginnings. Through donated items, dedicated volunteers, unexpected friendships, and a heart for helping others, Cooper and her team have created something that is truly about more than thrift.
-CCC Editoral Team-
SWMO Thrift Store Hours
Tuesday - Friday 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Saturday 10 A.M. - 2 P.M.
