TUCSON, Ariz. - A southern Arizona thrift store near Tuscon seems like an unlikely source of grant money.
But what started out as a small country fair 55 years ago in Green Valley has become a brick-and-mortar operation that has given an estimated $32 million since then.
People from all over Arizona stop by White Elephant Thrift Store daily to hunt for items. The store's board of directors makes sure schools, nonprofit agencies and other organizations in surrounding communities benefit from the bargain hunting. White Elephant earlier this month dispersed 124 grants totaling $1.7 million.
The money has benefited communities from Sahuarita to Nogales.