Donor provides free shopping at Thrift Haus ahead of Christmas
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 9 months AGO
The Soroptimist Thrift Haus downtown. (Heidi Desch/Whitefsih Pilot)
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | December 30, 2020 1:00 AM
An anonymous donor recently made Christmas a little brighter for shoppers at the Soroptimist Thrift Haus.
The donor gave more than $2,000 to the nonprofit so it could hand out $25 shopping coupons to customers in the store on Saturday, Dec. 16, which was the last day the store was open prior to Christmas Day.
Bonnie Baker, president of the Soroptimist International of Whitefish, says it’s the first time she can recall a donor providing funds directly to shoppers.
“Many of them teared up when they realized what was happening,” she said of the shoppers' response. “We got hand-written notes and cards, and lots of thank yous.”
Soroptimist volunteers operate the thrift store to raise money for other organizations that focus on improving the lives of women and girls.
Baker said the anonymous donation made it possible to assist people during a hard time.
“It was a real surprise to us and it was great to help members of our community,” she said.
Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. The Whitefish club sponsors scholarships, runs the Smile of Hope Dental Program, and the Live Your Dream Awards to assist with the cost of tuition, books or transportation.
The Thrift Haus is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, visit https://soroptimistwhitefish.org/
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