WARRENTON Tis the season of giving. But for one North Coast woman, gifts arent only for Christmas.

Warrentons Penny Wise Thrift Store Owner Pat Fessler, a woman with a gentle heart and a generous soul, is keeping the Christmas spirit alive all year long and hoping to open a halfway house for those suffering from mental illness.

The store

Penny Wise Thrift Store is located on East Harbor Street and has been there for two years, growing from 1,400 square feet to 4,300 square feet in that time. Doing the math on the business sounds simple; open seven days a week, 60 hours a week and with all of the merchandise donated.

Simple, that is, until you add the fact that Pat Fessler is 74 years old and doesnt take a salary, and thats what makes the thrift store so unique.

The old saying A penny saved is a penny earned definitely applies. Every penny raised at Penny Wise does not go to the Fesslers. It will soon go to support the bipolar community and others suffering from mental illness.?Fessler said they are anxiously awaiting their nonprofit-status paperwork to go through so they can use the money theyve saved in their two years of business.

We started it because our granddaughter was diagnosed as bipolar, she said. Weve had the pleasure of raising our three grandchildren, one is in college now, one is bipolar and the youngest is 16. And when we found out how little there was for services, we decided that we would start the store. Its community run and totally blessed. We have customers coming back time after time after time. I could tell you stories that could just tear you apart.

Fessler, who was also raised by her grandparents, says meeting the bipolar community and visiting with them every day has opened her eyes to the world, and opened the eys of those affected to knowing they are not alone.

The customers are my life. Its wonderful to just hear someone come up and say, Im bipolar, you know? Its like Im bipolar, so what? Fessler said. Before, I think people seemed ashamed of it, didnt want to talk about it. Its wonderful. If someone cant afford something, we just give it away. I mean, some people come in here who have nothing. You dont want to take their dignity. Id rather die than take someones dignity. We have a tab, so if they dont get paid until a certain day, they can come back and pay for it. Its like a big family to us. No matter how tired you get, you get up in the morning and its another day. Make it a good one.

Praised by many

Her customers sing the praises of Fessler. One person described her as the most giving and loving person I know.

This is the best thing that could have ever happened to this area. And this woman is incredible, said Betty Stutznegger. Its incredible and really, Im spreading the word everywhere I go. There is never a time when I come in here and dont leave without getting something. Shes a saint and shes trying so hard to do what we need done in this area. Shes an angel here on Earth.

Fessler not only gives her time and money, but recalls giving away yarn a while back. It was returned to her, in the form of 30 hand-knit blankets and a handful of knit hats that will be donated to the veterans.

For Christmas, the Fesslers gave away a free toy to every child. 

I used to think, How am I going to make this horrendous rent? but you have to have faith and it hasnt failed us yet. The bad part is waiting for that last little document that says were nonprofit so we can do whats good and right with the money. We didnt realize how hard it is to get a nonprofit status. You have to be in business two years. And weve just now reached that. So we have our state status and were waiting on the federal.

Until the paperwork goes through, all of the money made at Penny Wise has gone into an account that has not been touched. 

We take none of the money whatsoever. It all goes into the bank until we get that final little nonprofit status. I want start a halfway house for mental illness, she said. Thats the big thing for us that were dreaming of every waking moment.

The woman

The Fesslers, Pat and her husband Peter, didnt stop their efforts at the thrift store. They also started a support group called Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). 

We have 177 members. We started with just two. Its the largest group for depression and bipolar in Oregon, she said of the group that meets at Columbia Memorial Hospital once a month. You should see the group. Some peoples stories would break your heart. People are broken, misunderstood, I cant believe it myself, some of it. But when youre called to do something, you dont have a choice. But we dont only serve bipolar. We serve everybody in the community here, no matter what it is. We sell dolls for Astor House, raffles for homeless, blankets for veterans. You name it, we do it.

Joe Pantoliano of The Goonies fame, has a nonprofit organization for mental illness called No Kidding, Me Too! and a documentary of the same name. Having heard about what the Fesslers have done, he asked if they would start a No Kidding, Me Too! group on the North Coast.

Were starting one for teenagers in mid-January, she said.

The Fesslers also are both hospice volunteers and on occasion, Fessler said she doubles as a marriage counselor.

Wives or girlfriends come in to see her, tell her whats going on in their relationships and ask her what they should do. She listens with a loving heart and offers words of advice. 

She says a lot of times the men will come in a while later and ask for her advice, as well, having heard what the wives or girlfriends have said about Fessler.

If you need help, were here for you every minute, she said. Its just the way it is. You have to be called to do something like this I think. Its a passion. I dont care who I have to fight, mayor or senator or whomever, there has to be something done for mental illness. 

You have to live with bipolar. Its a very, very difficult situation. But what do I need money for? Whats money? Could it buy John Edwards wife her life from cancer? No. We have the love of the kids that come in here and the customers so what do I need money for? Ill never be homeless, Ill never be hungry, Ill never be without love. What else could I ask for? Its just a wonderful thing.

The help

Volunteers have come in to donate money, items, services and time.

Jo Bean, a community member who is bipolar, comes in seven days a week to help Fessler organize, straighten up, and decorate.

Its therapeutic for her,?Fessler said. Shes like a train. She just goes and goes.

Bean added, I love being here, I love what Im doing. I volunteer and sometimes I come in the evening. When you come in to a place, its impressive when everything is clean. At least thats how I feel. So this is what I try to do for Pat. Shes such a sweetheart. Shes going to go to heaven, no doubt. We all love her and would do anything for her. Anything.

Volunteers come from all over, including Astoria Pointe and Clatsop Community College. Anyone who wants to do community service can do it at Penny Wise, Fessler said.

The customers are the biggest help of all, however, supporting the store and the halfway house goal.

This has just been a blessing, Fessler said. Its the loyal customers that do it. I was a little scared at first. I didnt know if I could do this but its my life. Youve got to be passionate about it, about what you do. And this is a win-win situation. No one can lose.