Check Out Sharla Wright’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharla Wright.

Hi Sharla, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
From Wheat Fields to Community Nest: How One Woman’s Leap of Faith Sparked a Mountain Movement

Sharla Wright has always believed that everything happens for a reason. But to understand how that belief led to the creation of one of the most vibrant nonprofit ventures in the Colorado foothills, you have to start at the beginning.
Wright grew up in a small farming town in south-central Kansas, where her mother taught school and her father ran a three-generation newspaper business. Summers were spent in wheat fields, not on beaches, and her childhood dreams were shaped by the values of hard work, family, and ambition.

“I always told my parents I’d be a businesswoman,” Wright recalls. “I pictured myself in a black suit, carrying a briefcase, wearing those pointy shoes that make you look taller.”

In 2006, she landed what she calls her “big girl job” at a healthcare IT company in Kansas City. Over the next two decades, she climbed the corporate ladder, traveling the world and witnessing history from boardrooms and business lounges. But as she checked off career milestones, she began to crave something more personal.
Marriage and motherhood followed, and eventually, a move from Denver to the mountain town of Evergreen. The slower pace and tight-knit community reminded Wright of her Kansas roots. But even in their charming new neighborhood, something still felt incomplete.

That changed one summer afternoon during a simple yard sale.

“I had items I couldn’t bring back into the house,” she says. “So I searched for a nearby donation spot and found a little resale shop just down the road.”

What began as a routine drop-off turned into a life-altering encounter. Peeking through the shop’s windows, Wright saw a flurry of activity and curiosity got the better of her. Inside, she found herself dressing a half-naked mannequin when an elegant older woman approached and asked, “Are you a volunteer?”

Wright wasn’t—yet. But within minutes, she was whisked into the back room, introduced to the “processing room” team, and invited to join the volunteer crew. Hesitant but intrigued, she agreed to try one Wednesday afternoon.

“I walked in and immediately felt like I was back at my grandma’s house—welcomed, loved, and completely at home,” she says.

That one afternoon turned into a weekly ritual. Wright became part of a vibrant community of mostly retired women who shared stories, laughter, and tears. The resale shop became a second home.

Then, in early 2024, came the devastating news: the nonprofit that ran the shop was closing its doors.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of losing this place,” Wright says. “It wasn’t just a store—it was a sanctuary.”
With no prior experience running a nonprofit, Wright took a leap of faith. She rallied the women who had become her second family and proposed a bold idea: they would keep the spirit of the shop alive by starting something new—together.

And so, Community Nest was born.

The name reflects both mission and heart: “COMMUNITY” for the sense of belonging and philanthropy it fosters, and “NEST” as an acronym for its core values—Nurture, Elevate, Serve, and Teach.

From the beginning, the universe seemed to conspire in their favor. Donations arrived just when they were needed. The landlord worked with their budget. Volunteers stepped up with passion and purpose. And on July 16, 2024, Community Nest officially opened its doors.

Today, the nonprofit is thriving. It operates entirely through volunteers and supports three funding initiatives: the Giving Circle (a semi-annual fund), the Empowerment Fund (for crisis support), and a scholarship program in partnership with another local nonprofit.

Visitors to the shop are greeted with coffee, conversation, and a curated selection of hidden treasures. But more than that, they find connection.

“People tell us they don’t come because they need something—they come because they need the energy,” Wright says. “It’s a place where everyone belongs.”

With a diverse board of directors and a growing network of supporters, Community Nest continues to soar. And for Wright, it’s the fulfillment of a vision she first imagined as a little girl on a Kansas swingset, watching planes overhead and dreaming of a life filled with purpose.

“I never imagined it would look like this,” she says with a smile. “But I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://conifercommunitynest.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/community_nest_conifer/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw%3D%3D#
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560202087258
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharladunn/

Image Credits
I will send the additional photos within the next week.