PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Right next to Frontline Community Church on Plainfield Avenue is a store so unassuming that you might not even know it's there, if not for a sandwich board out front. But as subtle as it is, The StoreHouse is a location that's gaining big time name recognition amongst Michigan non-profits because of what it provides.
"We are a way to basically accelerate what other nonprofits are doing," said co-founder and executive director Jessica Johns.
"We take in millions of dollars in product donations from businesses and bookstores, across the U.S., a few right here locally. We take it in, house it like a retail space like a Costco or a Meijer, and then we redistribute it at about 4% retail or less to other non-profits and schools throughout Michigan."
The StoreHouse obtained its 501(c)3 certification in 2016 and ever since then, it has been growing and making a difference.
"We've doubled and tripled year-over-year. We did $10 to $15 million in donated goods last year. This year we'll be $20 to $30 million, probably, in donated goods. This year we had 320 members at the start of the year. I'm sure we'll be close to 500 or 600 members at the end," Jessica said.
Destiny Jones-Willis, the executive director of R2H Secure Living, has been using The StoreHouse to better serve people experiencing housing insecurity.
"Everyone knows Kent County is just known for having a housing crisis. It's been a crisis at this point. What we do is we come in and we have a conversation with you. What does your crisis look like? You can't assume that everybody has bad credit, or is unemployed, or is receiving some type of subsidy," Destiny said, noting that the cost of even the smallest things can become barriers to living a happy and healthy life.
"We always need the provisions of bath towels and personal hygiene items. You can never get too many toothbrushes, toothpaste, and deodorant. From time to time, more so than not, we have needs for mattresses, whether that's twin size, full size, or queen size."
Being a member at The StoreHouse helps R2H stretch its dollars further, offering more support for its clients.
"R2H would not be able to operate in the capacity that it has without being able to be have a membership at The StoreHouse," Destiny said.
"If I go to The StoreHouse, and I can get a mattress for $30, that's brand new, versus spending $300, I can reach way more families. Our reach would be so limited if we didn't have this resource available to us."
Jessica said she grew up in poverty. She said her parents always worked and never asked for anything, but still had trouble making ends meet. She knows first-hand how important organizations like R2H are, and she said that's why The StoreHouse is committed to continuing its work.
"To me that just makes it feel like I'm giving back in a way that lots of people did for my family when I was growing up," she said.
In order to keep up with the demand, The StoreHouse needs donations of both products and money. They also need volunteers to fill basically any role that you'd typically see at a big box retailer, including store clerks.
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