Loving Local: Curating Gifts for Every Love Story, Giving Back, and Supporting our Community

As Valentine’s Day has officially arrived, we at The Last Best Store want to take a moment to celebrate love, advocacy, and community—values evoked by the holiday and by our year-round commitment to support over 180 incredible local artists, small businesses, and nonprofits. Whether you’re shopping for a significant other, a dear friend, or even treating yourself, we have last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts that are as unique as the people you cherish. We're also excited to announce that two more fundraising partners have joined our merchandise-based fundraising program: Girls On Shred and the University of Montana' W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation. Finally, we'd like to encourage you to support one of our favorite jewelry vendors, Patagonian Hands, who recently lost a significant amount of inventory to theft. Read on to find out more and help us celebrate love, give back, and support our community.

Find a Unique Gift for Every Love Story—Even at the Last Minute!

Forgot to grab a gift for your loved one? Need a little inspiration? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! Our store is filled with locally crafted jewelry, candles, art, gourmet treats, and self-care items that make perfect Montana-made Valentine’s Day gifts. From heartfelt greeting cards to Montana-themed keepsakes, our Valentine Gift Ideas collection has something for everyone. We have also updated our Gift Ideas for Women, Gift Ideas for Men, and Gift Ideas for Them collections to include Valentine's Day-inspired gifts. Stop by The Last Best Store in Southgate Mall to find something truly special.

Some of our favorite Valentine’s Day gift ideas include:
💖 Handmade jewelry for a one-of-a-kind statement piece
💖 Locally crafted candles and lotion candles to set the perfect cozy atmosphere
💖 Montana-grown teas and gourmet treats for a sweet and thoughtful surprise
💖 Art and greeting cards that bring happiness to any space or face

Celebrate love in all its forms with the best Valentine’s, Galentine’s, and self-care gifts—handcrafted in Big Sky Country.

New Merchandise-Based Fundraising Partners: Giving Back in 2025

At The Last Best Store, we believe that supporting local also means giving back. That’s why we’re excited to announce two new merchandise-based fundraising partnerships for 2025! Through these collaborations, we work with Montana-based organizations to create and sell exclusive merchandise that directly supports their mission. This year, we’re proud to welcome Girls on Shred and the University of Montana's W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation.

The Last Best Store is proud to partner with Girls on Shred (GOS)—a Missoula-based, volunteer-run non-profit that facilitates action sports skill-building, equipment sharing, and inclusive/ accessible community events. Established in 2010, GOS is changing the game for action sports in Montana and the greater Pacific Northwest by empowering youth and people who identify as marginalized genders to take on the skatepark, slopes, and beyond with confidence, new skills, and quality gear. Offering free skill-building clinics, equipment sharing, and accessible community events, GOS engages underserved communities through a variety of skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing, river surfing, and roller skating events. Since 2010, GOS has reached over 2000 participants in 30 rural communities (plus a robust online community), hosted over 100 free adventure sports events and fundraisers, and gifted over $50,000 worth of skate, snowboard, and protective gear. 

Additionally, last month we were delighted to launch merchandise in partnership with the University of Montana's W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation (FCFC), which was established at the UM by a generous gift by the William A. and Carolyn Franke family in 2016. This expansion of the prestigious School of Forestry (founded in 1913) has facilitated undergraduate degrees in Environmental Science and Sustainability, Forestry, Wildlife Biology, and Parks, Tourism and Recreation, as well as a range of related Masters and Doctoral degree programs. FCFC’s mission is to advance research and education that fosters sustainability and science-backed conservation advocacy and policy, while empowering the next generation of environmental leaders. Funds raised through this partnership help FCFC demonstrate academic excellence as a global leader in environmental science, conservation, and sustainability.

By shopping these collections, you’re not just supporting Montana artisans—you’re also contributing to causes that matter to all of us. Stay tuned for more fundraising merchandise as we grow these collections, and for information about these two remarkable organizations in future blogs, emails, and social media (click here for Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok).

Show Some Love for Patagonian Hands!

While we love celebrating our artisans, we also stand by them during tough times. One of our talented vendors, Patagonian Hands, recently suffered a significant loss of handmade jewelry inventory--a heartbreaking setback for this small business. Specializing in exquisite, handcrafted earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings, their work has long been a staff favorite, known for its unique designs and exceptional craftsmanship.

If you’ve ever admired their pieces—or if you’re looking for a meaningful gift with a story behind it—now is the perfect time to show your support. Purchasing a piece from Patagonian Hands helps this local artisan recover from their loss and continue creating beautiful jewelry for us all to enjoy.

Celebrate Love, Support Local, and Give Back

This Valentine’s Day, let’s celebrate love in all its forms—love for our vendors, our partners, our friends, and our diverse community. Whether you’re picking out a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift, contributing to an important cause, or supporting a local artist in need, your choices make a difference.

Visit us at The Last Best Store in Southgate Mall to find something special, support local makers, and be part of a community that truly cares.

💖 Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at The Last Best Store! 💖

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Arielle Smith is a recovering academic, a mom, and an aspiring wordsmith who helps The Last Best Store to manage an assortment of projects, programs, and data. She harmonizes these and other intellectual pursuits with an eclectic range of creative activities, including making mixed media art and jewelry (Presents of Mind Design) and botanical skincare products (Dr. Smith Botanicals).