PONDERAY - Gift giving season has officially begun, and on Dec. 12 local bargain hunters  will have yet another holiday shopping option when Goodwill Industries unveils its new state-of-the-art store.

The 16,500-square-foot facility, located at 204 Larkspur St., is a drastic upgrade in both size and amenities from Goodwill's current Sandpoint location, said public relations manager Diane Galloway.

In addition to an expanded retail operation, the new facility will have improved office space and areas for processing donated goods.

Galloway said the added space will allow the store to enhance existing programs while incorporating several more, including service coordination and vocational services.

Service coordination aims to offer available resources to people with disabilities, while vocational services link participants with jobs that match their skills and needs.

Another program that will be available is All Stars, which brings Goodwill staff into elementary schools to help prevent substance abuse by using confidence-building tactics and incentives to educate children on the dangers of drug use.

Consolidating different programs into one physical location, as the new store will do, makes the lives of both program participants and leaders much easier, Galloway said.

"Being able to put classroom training and on-the-job training under one roof is just tremendous. It makes a huge difference," Galloway said.

Ponderay Mayor Carol Kunzeman will attend the grand opening and said having such an impressive Goodwill store in Ponderay is a feather in the town's cap.

"I think it's a great thing for everyone in this area and we're all pretty excited about it," Kunzeman said.

The ribbon cutting and grand opening will feature a number of giveaways and door prizes throughout the day, including goodie baskets and store gift certificates.

Goodwill will open at 10 a.m. on the day of the grand opening, after which the store will revert back to its regular hours of 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays.