Giving Place raises more than $350,000 for local non-profits in two years

MEDINA — In the past year, the Giving Place has raised more than $200,000 for local nonprofits through its resale store. The Giving Place, 1095 N. Court St., is a nonprofit resale store offering household items, furniture, clothing, decorations and more. The proceeds go toward local nonprofit organizations. The Giving Place will have distributed more than $354,000 to about 40 nonprofit organizations by the end of July. Founders Stephanie Furey and Angel Kiefer opened the Giving Place in June 2023. As of May 2024, the Giving Place distributed $120,000 to 20 nonprofit organizations. Since the store's first anniversary, they've more than doubled the amount distributed. They've also worked with more nonprofits in the Medina County area, supporting closer to 40. Each organization is chosen by the Giving Foundation Charity Partner Selection Committee. "We look at their application and then we determine if it falls within our pillars that we have," Kiefer said. The foundation looks to support a broad range of needs for all ages of people throughout Medina County, whether that is mental health, foster care, food, shelter and more. For Kiefer, the impact they have on others hits her when they sit down with the non-profits after receiving their applications and talk about how they can support their work. "That's when it really hits you that you're helping somebody," she said. According to Furey, the Giving Place has about 120 volunteers, from the people stocking the shelves to those who drive out to pick up donated furniture. In September, the Giving Place purchased a van to help with its pickups, adding to the volunteer fleet of trucks and trailers. The Giving Place has also expanded its reach, distributing grant funding to Wadsworth nonprofits like the Soprema Senior Center, a Wadsworth food pantry and the Village of St. Edward. Since distributing funds to Wadsworth organizations, donations have increased from Wadsworth residents. "I just think it's really fun that we're able to continue the success," Furey said. The Giving Place takes donations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday and will pick up donations at no cost to the person donating. The Giving Place is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and will be open until 7 p.m. Wednesdays. To learn more, visit thegivingplacemedina.org. Contact reporter Sara Crawford at (330) 721-4063 or scrawford@medina-gazette.com.