MEDINA, Ohio -- It’s been a busy -- and profitable -- first year for The Giving Place, a nonprofit resale store at 1095 N. Court St. in Medina.
And that is happy news for local charitable groups.
The store, which opened on June 17, 2023, has already raised enough money to donate $101,000 to a total of 14 Medina County organizations.
Founders and current managers Stephanie Furey and Angel Kiefer started the store “to make a difference in our community through the donations we sell and the charities we serve.”
It's all about giving back at the welcoming and lovingly laid out The Giving Place resale store in Medina.Mary Jane Brewer, special to cleveland.com
With the help of more than 100 volunteers, who together have donated an incredible 10,000 hours, they have collected donations from many hundreds of community members and sold the items at reasonable prices to many hundreds of satisfied shoppers.
On Jan. 25, the store distributed $77,500 to nine charities. On April 30, five more charities shared $23,500 in additional store profits.
The new organizations are listed below:
• Medina County Senior and Adult Foundation. The money will be used for the foundation’s gift card program during the holidays.
• Hands Foundation. Funds will support the Senior Wish Program, in which seniors can apply for money for needs such as car repairs, personal care necessities, a battery for a wheelchair or new shoes.
• Replay for Kids. The money will be used to increase the availability of toys and assistive devices for children who have disabilities. The group repairs, adapts and distributes toys and assistive devices free of charge.
• Integrated Community Solutions. The money will help provide social engagement programs for adults with and without developmental disabilities. The programs match adults with developmental disabilities with non-disabled volunteers. Some current programs are fitness, yoga, art, hayrides in the fall and monthly bingo.
• Medina Cares. The all-volunteer nonprofit serves Medina County residents in a medical crisis, providing money for needs including rent, utility bills, medication, groceries and transportation.
The support for the charities is possible because of the generous community members who bring their unwanted but salable furniture, clothing, glassware, kitchen items, antiques, etc., to the back door of the store from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
One or more volunteers then sort the items, price them and display them attractively in the store.
In addition to the store helpers, a group of dedicated gentlemen collect furniture from donors and deliver it the homes of buyers. They move eight to 11 pickup truck loads each week.
More volunteers are always needed.
The Giving Place resale store in Medina is always looking for donations -- and volunteers.Mary Jane Brewer, special to cleveland.com
As it was last year, the store will be filled with Christmas décor and potential gifts beginning in October. Donations of Christmas items will be accepted beginning in July, and extra volunteers will be needed to sort and price them.
For more information about the store, its operations or volunteer opportunities, check out www.thegivingplacemedina.org, call 330-845-4483 or stop in during regular hours.
Those are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except on Wednesdays, when the store is open until 7 p.m.
Read more from the Medina Sun.