The holiday decorations are hung, the first flakes have finally fallen and the shopping season has begun. Now is the time to embrace the Whitefish Thrift Haus’ slogan, where shopping is giving.  

Each purchase at Whitefish Thrift Haus supports two organizations with a united cause – the Whitefish Thrift Haus and Soroptimist International of Whitefish. 

A common misconception is that the two Whitefish organizations are one and the same, when in fact, they operate more as twin sisters. The Thrift Haus is a Type 1 509(a)3, and its sole purpose is to be the supporting organization for Soroptimist, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Each has its own board of directors. 

The Soroptimist Whitefish chapter was formed in 1951 and its members opened the Thrift Haus in 1973. While the Thrift Haus wasn’t the first creative fundraiser for the Soroptimists, it has been a game changer for ongoing fundraising. To this day, the relationship between the two organizations – through the support of a tight-knit Whitefish community – serves as an exemplary model for Soroptimist chapters across the globe. 

Mary Witbrod, a longtime Soroptimist member, said since distinguishing between the two organizations in recent years, each board member and volunteer has a better idea of “what hat to wear,” helping the Thrift Haus to maximize the money raised to support Soroptimist causes. 

Angie Burger was hired as the first ever store manager of the volunteer-run Thrift Haus in May 2022, another crucial change for the joint organizations.  

“Angie was a quintessential hostess,” Witbrod said. “You have all these women, ‘Let me throw my idea in there!’ But Angie was calming, and welcoming, and ideas were heard and filtered.” 

When Burger moved to Portland last summer to be closer to family, Kirstin Kallal started in her place as the new manager. Kallal describes herself as both an anomaly and a mediator.  

“The manager has the big picture,” Kallal said, in between chatting with a couple of volunteers. 

“We’re here all day, every day... It was the busiest summer,” Kallal said, before then turning to a handyman replacing an overhead light.  

“It’s an absolute delight, every day, to work with so many passionate, hardworking, caring ladies,” she concluded.  

Of the 70 volunteers Kallal manages, the youngest is about 17 years old, and the oldest, Annie, is about 90.  

More volunteers are always needed because many only work a few hours at a time, often in the “treasure hunting” arm of volunteering, Kallal said. Meanwhile, outgoing volunteers to work the front register are harder to come by. 

Nonetheless, since restructuring and hiring a manager, revenue has come up.  

“The last two years are the first time we’ve had a bonus,” said Victoria Gabaldón, current president of Soroptimist.  

Those funds go to programs like Live Your Dream, she said.  

“Live Your Dream is for women who are already enrolled in training or education. It’s an award that goes directly to them, not the school. If she wants to pay for childcare, if she wants to fix her car, that money goes to her.” 

In the last five years or so, the number of Live Your Dream awards has increased from about five to nearly 20 a year -- and it’s just one of several programs Soroptimist sponsors.  

The Whitefish Soroptimists have also extended reach to more women across the state, especially in the east, and where there aren’t local Soroptimist chapters.  

“Every time I go to an International or Federal level [event], I always come back super grateful for the Thrift Haus,” Gabaldón said. “If it wasn’t for this, we wouldn’t be able to help women across Montana. A bingo, a pie fundraiser, that can only do so much. This, with these volunteers, does so much.”  

As the Thrift Haus has streamlined funds over the years, the Soroptimists have also streamlined their mission.  

“It used to be whatever would help women and girls,” Witbrod said. “As an organization, we did so much, it was hard to say what we did... but now we’ve evolved, and we’re really focused on training and education for women and girls, because it’s such a vital part of their ability to make their own economic stability for their future, and their families.” 

To learn more, see www.soroptimistwhitefish.org and www.whitefishthrifthaus.org, call 406 862-3330, or stop by the Thrift Haus. 

*Edit to add: A holiday market benefitting Soroptimist is Friday, Dec 5 from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6 from 9-11 a.m at the Whitefish Community Center.