Klothes Kloset donations top $21,000 for the year
Dedicated volunteers at the Klothes Kloset were able to contribute $11,000 to organizations during World Community Day, plus another $10,141 during the past year.
Totals included $1,500 given to Energy Share as income from the 2010 Christmas Store. Other monetary gifts awarded during the past year were $2,400 to Columbia Falls Food Pantry (rent) $1,200 education scholarships, plus $300 summer concert sponsor, Columbia Falls Lions Club.
Church Women United own and operate the Klothes Kloset, located at the north end of Nucleus Avenue. It was originally Gateway Lumber Co. Annual expenses include maintenance, $3,689.69; taxes, $328.41; and insurance, $673.25.
It is always amazing to me when considering clothing prices can include special items for only 25 cents weekly. Costs for houseware items, dishes, bedding, shoes, books, purses and you name it are inexpensive. Ladies are careful with expenditures and all donations appreciated. Shopping at the KK Boutique, as the late Grace Elliott dubbed it, is somewhat of a status symbol for some of us.
World Community Day was held at St. Richard's Catholic Church with invocation led by Father John Miller. Clarice Brooks, All Saints Episcopal Church had charge of the program. Marion Fisher introduced and presented checks to representatives of area organizations.
Donations voted by the board for 2011 were as follows: Columbia Falls Fire Department, Three Rivers Ambulance, North Valley Senior Citizens Center, Boys and Girls Club, Eagle Transit, Abby House, $1,000 each; Columbia Falls Food Pantry, CASA, Nurturing Center, Samaritan House, Intermountain Children's Home Providence House, Florence Crittenton Home, $500 each; ALERT helicopter, $400; Special Olympics, Community Dinners, House of Hope, $300 each; Literacy Program, Lighthouse, $200 each; Church World Service, National CWU, State CWU, $100 each.
Officers of Church Women United are Betty Henneberg, president; Marion Fisher, vice president; Marion Andrew, secretary; Joan Smith and Irene Ladenburg, treasurers. Kris Skyberg is Klothes Kloset manager.
Christmas Store will be held Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Klothes Kloset.
Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.