Clothing nonprofit YAHAB opens in Brunswick

BRUNSWICK — Those in need can now stop by Yahab in Brunswick to receive items like clothing, shoes and housewares at no charge. Yahab founder Valeria Long said she previously owned a retail store in Medina Township that was doing well until the pandemic hit. As a result, she pivoted to opening a nonprofit in Medina, which gave people items like clothes to help them start over again. "Yahab is the Hebrew word, meaning to give," she said. "I wanted something where people would ask, 'What does that mean?' so I could tell them about the mission of Yahab." The nonprofit recently moved to its new location in Brunswick at 4356 Center Road. Long said she loves the proximity of the new location to Brunswick Middle School and Brunswick High School. "If the kids need help, they could walk here," she said. "The spot where I was in Medina wasn't conducive since it was on (state Route) 18, and if you didn't have a car, you couldn't get to us. I wanted to get near people who could walk to us and get what they needed." The former church building is now filled with rows and rows of clothing ranging from children's to adult sizes. Along the walls are a variety of shoes and accessories, like jewelry and scarves, for every occasion. "We dress you," she said. "I have two people that dress the people to make sure everything fits just so, so that people that donate to us, they know their things are given to someone who is going to wear and use it." The Northern Medina County Chamber Alliance celebrated Yahab's opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. "What we want is to have people buy into the vision of helping people who are in need," Long said. "Some of us just need a leg up, and that's what we try to provide here." Yahab will be open every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays 3-7 p.m. Those who are interested in making a donation can stop by during the hours of operation, and those who are in need can call (330) 288-7001 to set up an appointment. "It's letting the community know that there's help for those that are downtrodden," Long said. "Those people are not seen anymore, and they feel invisible. They think that people don't care, but there are people that care." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.