Volunteers at the Soroptimist of Wallowa County Thrift Shop sort donations Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. Soroptimist International is celebrating its 100th birthday this year.

ENTERPRISE — Soroptimist International is marking 100 years this year, and the Wallowa County club celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2017, according to a press release.

With no big-box stores in Wallowa County, volunteerism is how things get done. The local Soroptimist membership has grown by more than a dozen new members since July, mostly because those who share the club’s ideals see the value of what the group does for the community and want to be a part of it. The club is thriving with a total membership of 52 women, local Soroptimist Carolyn Gilbert said.

Over the course of the club’s history, the members have tried many different forms of fundraisers, including candy sales, fashion shows and pie sales. In September 1957 — more than 60 years ago — the local club undertook its largest fundraising project ever, the operation of a thrift shop in the basement of the Enterprise Odd Fellows Hall.

The shop is still open. Prices have been kept low over the years to allow those in need in the community to clothe their families at prices they can afford. In operation only two days a week, the shop grosses more than $1,000 per week and earns about $60,000 a year. Approximately 90% of the shop’s net revenues go back into the community with 10% going to Soroptimist projects.

The shop is open to all on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations are accepted only on Mondays.

Each year, the Wallowa County Soroptimist club supports the Live Your Dream Award, confers a Fellowship Award to a woman pursuing an advanced educational degree and honors a local woman with a Ruby Award. Internationally, members support the December 10th Appeal and have funded the high school educations of five teen girls in El Salvador and a family in Sierra Leone.

Locally, the club provides support to a number of projects and programs. Most notable this year, it provided 12 high school seniors with $2,000 scholarships and sponsored a month-long program on Women in Art. The club also gives to the local food bank, senior meals, libraries and other programs and conducts three community service projects.

The club also helps sponsor Community Connection and various community projects such as Chief Joseph Summer Camp, the Rotary Spelling Bee, school field trips, the Wallowa Summer Reading Program and the Youth Art Festival.

The club has maintained high standards as professional women committed to improving the lives of women and girls primarily in the local community but also on an international scale.

“We are proud of our members and our accomplishments,” the release stated.

Where: Basement of IOOF Hall, 202 E. North St., Enterprise.

Phone: 541-263-0674

Online: Facebook (Soroptimist International of Wallowa County) or www.wallowacountysoroptimist.org. Thrift Shop online auctions at www.soroptimist-wallowacounty-auction.org.

Mail: Submit requests for community projects to SI Wallowa County, P.O. Box 127, Enterprise 97828.