April 2026 Sunriver Scene - Flipbook - Page 14
Where community meets purpose: Inside the Second Tern family of volunteers
By Lily Pifferini-Carter
In 2025, 88 volunteers at
the Second Tern Thrift Store
donated an incredible 23,447
hours of their time.
That tireless effort and donation of time directly tie to
the Sunriver Nature Center &
Observatory’s mission: to foster
curiosity and create educational experiences that inspire
a deeper connection to space
and the natural world.
Proceeds from sales at the
Second Tern act as pivotal operating funds that support every
branch of the organization.
From serving 5,788 students
on field trips at the nature
center and 1,077 children and
adults on offsite programs, to
more than 14,327 people attending nighttime programs at
the observatory, the volunteers
at the Second Tern make everything we do at the Sunriver
Nature Center & Observatory
possible.
In addition to supporting our
mission of environmental and
astronomy education, the Second Tern Thrift Store is a social
hub for many people in our
community. Friendships form
over sorting donations, shared
interests and ever-abundant
baked goods. Volunteering can
give otherwise isolated people
purpose, connection, and a way
Second Tern volunteers sort and price donations for resale.
to stay active in the community.
The Second Tern was founded to generate much-needed operating funds for the
Sunriver Nature Center &
Observatory, and since 1988
it has done that and so much
more; it has created a family.
When you visit the store, that
much is palpable. You will see
volunteers darting around,
restocking shelves with donations just dropped off. You’ll
hear boisterous laughter – and
sometimes singing – from the
work areas, and you might even
smell the lunches provided to
keep everyone going strong.
This month hosts National
Volunteer Appreciation Month,
so I also want to recognize the
behind-the-scenes effort coming from those volunteers, and
the impact it creates.
Our donations increased by
68% from 2024 to 2025. That
growth requires incredible effort just to receive items from
donors and sort them into the
appropriate departments. Sorting items often involves more
than just pricing and putting
them on shelves. Volunteers
are intentional about storing
items for the appropriate season, passing on quality excess
to partner organizations, and
researching the “what even is
this?” items we get every day.
We have volunteers with the
dedicated role of rearranging
and decorating the store to be
ready for customers each week.
When the store is open, there
are always volunteers around
and ready to assist customers
in finding items and loading
heavier things out of and into
vehicles. During the week, we
offer a free pick-up service for
large items, with volunteers
utilizing our box truck to help
folks donate items they may be
unable to lift, or they do not
have an appropriate vehicle to
transport. It takes every one of
Elevate Your Game with a
Sunriver Golf Club Membership
Enjoy unlimited play on two of the Pacific Northwest’s
premier courses: Meadows and Woodlands.
Off the green, Membership includes exclusive access to the Cove Aquatic
Center, spa and dining discounts, and a year-round calendar of social events.
It’s more than just a club - it’s a lifestyle for the whole family.
LIMITED TIME OFFER
RIGHT NOW, JOIN WITH A $5,000 INITIATION FEE
Sunriver Golf Club Initiation fee valued at $15,000
JOIN TODAY AT SUNRIVERRESORT.COM/THECLUB
Page 14
APRIL 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
our incredible people to make
this happen.
All the items that are donated
to and then sold at the Second
Tern are given new life once
they exit our doors. In 2025,
the Second Tern Thrift Store
diverted 3,700 cubic yards of
goods from the landfill that
may have otherwise been discarded. That equates to our
entire property lot, filled 4.5
feet deep in goods.
The highest-volume items by
far are clothing and furniture.
With our county’s landfill set
to reach its capacity within the
next few years, that lack of a
footprint is especially relevant.
Our volunteers are the stewards
in the practice of sustainability.
By shopping second-hand, you
can keep quality items in circulation, while also buying more
affordable goods to stretch your
budget.
The Second Tern is open
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and
Saturday. It is located west of
Sunriver at 17377 Spring River
Road, just past Harper Bridge
and adjacent to The Wallow
restaurant.
For more information, visit
www.snco.org/second-ternthrift-store
Rose is the longest serving
volunteer at the Tern, serving
for more than 30 years. Consid-
ering she just turned 90, that’s
a third of her life and counting!
When asked about what keeps
her coming back, she said “I
have to get out and visit with
the people here I’ve known for a
long time. All of the volunteers
here are amazing. They are such
good people and so talented.”
Through these years, the
Second Tern has become a
pillar in the community, and
this belonging is thanks to all
the amazing humans who give
their time to make it possible.
So, if you are looking to make
an impact, please come in to
donate, shop, or fill out a volunteer application. The Second
Tern may sell second-hand
items, but the generosity of its
volunteers is brand new every
day, and truly priceless.
Remember to think of the
Second Tern when you’re doing your spring cleaning and
have items to donate, or when
you’re in the mood for a little
shopping spree. And if you’re
interested in joining our wonderful volunteer family, please
don’t hesitate to reach out to
Lily at Lily@snco.org.
The Second Tern is located at
17377 Spring River Road just
west of Harper Bridge and next
to The Wallow on the way to
Mt. Bachelor. For information,
call 541-593-3367.
