Forest and Found celebrates one year in Lake Forest

In a way, Forest and Found’s mission is spelled out in its name. The nonprofit-cum-thrift store, located at 1363 N. Western Ave., takes donated items found in the backs of closets and in the bottoms of drawers, sells them, and, in turn, donates that money to local organizations.

Forest and Found is coming up on its first birthday in March, and, according to the store’s founder, Diana Durkes, her and her board of six others have found that their idea - to create a “very local organization that benefits local [people],” has been successful.

“It has been just amazing,” she said. “It’s been so successful. It’s really rewarding to form this community resource that the whole community is responding to.”

Forest and Found began when the seven board members, who all have worked together in various endeavors over the years, wanted to work with each other again and found a store together. Most of the board members were from Lake Forest and wanted to give back to the local community.

For her part, Durkes has a background in retail, working for Crate & Barrel for 15 years, and in media as a blogger for Chicago Tribune Media Company.

“I combined my mix of retail and tip of the iceberg knowledge of media to form the nonprofit and keep it going,” Durkes said.

Forest and Found donates its profits to two organizations in particular: Bernie’s Book Bank and A Safe Place.

Bernie’s Book Bank, which is located in Lake Forest, collects and redistributes new and used children’s books to at-risk children throughout the Chicago area. A Safe Place provides services to those in Lake County who are affected by domestic abuse.

“When we got together as a board, we brainstormed [where we were going to donate]. It was a unanimous decision to donate to both of these,” Durkes said. “One covers education and the other covers the needs of women and children. [We wanted] to help fill the needs of people who can’t afford much in the community. [These organizations] are about empowerment, knowledge [and] community.”

With the help of about 15 volunteers, Forest and Found has found success in the Lake Forest and greater Lake County community. People were dropping off donations at the store on their very first day, and the donations haven’t stopped coming - Durkes couldn’t even put a number on the donations they’ve received so far.

“It’s not possible to [estimate] them,” she said, laughing. “People in Lake Forest are very generous with donations.”

Looking ahead to Forest and Found’s future, Durkes would like to expand the store’s basement because “we’re running out of space,” she said.

The store also hosted an art show and the farmer’s market last summer, and she wants Forest and Found to continue putting on events like those.

However, “In one way I feel like we’re just getting started,” she said.

In the meantime, Durkes and the Forest and Found staff are proud of what they’ve accomplished in the field of what they call “creative recycling.”

“We created this marketplace with very nice second-hand goods,” Durkes said. “It’s a win-win-win for everyone. It benefits the community, it’s a resource for the community. I love the model. It just makes such great sense. Nothing is wasted, and everything has a purpose.”

For more information about Forest and Found, visit www.forestandfound.com.