While people were wandering the showrooms of the Portage Resale Center on Second Street in Port Clinton on Tuesday morning, checking out the goods for sale, the board of directors of the non-profit group were doling out a record $175,000 to non-profit groups around the area.

It was the eighth year that Portage Resale Center had showered its profits on other non-profit agencies in the community.

This year’s largesse pushed the overall total to $820,000 in eight years, an amazing success story.

Portage Resale Center is designed to collect or buy quality donations of clothing, furniture, books, household items and gently used goods of all kinds. It has a 10-member board of directors, a huge volunteer staff and Mary Maine, the store manager and only paid employee.

Created in 2011 by Bob and Linda Snyder of Catawba Mini Storage, the board members have helped give Portage Resale Center direction, and help to determine who should receive the 45 grants handed out on Tuesday.

Watching shoppers cruise the showroom floors before, during and afterward the grants were awarded, there was little doubt Portage Resale Center had
developed an appealing formula. The items for sale, from golf clubs and popular books to cocktail dresses that appeared brand new, were getting a lot of attention from shoppers. Christmas items were very popular, and with a cold snap this week, winter coats and warm clothing were filling buyers shopping carts.

The Portage Resale Center Youth Council, a group of 10 students from five Ottawa County high schools created by Board Member Heather Stouffer, were eager to help buyers, hand out grants, stock shelves, and take monthly tours of Ottawa County businesses to learn more about the community.

“The makeup of this organization is that of a non-profit, which owns the building we’re in and everything you’ll find here,” said Bob Snyder. “It was created in Ottawa County to help the people who live here and are in need of help. Every agency receiving grants today owns this facility, ensuring it will be here forever.”

Snyder wants those who can to volunteer at Portage Resale Center, whether it is one day a month or a couple of days a week.

“Knowing that this place is yours is a great thing for Ottawa County when the money starts to flow back to help those in need,” said Snyder.

Organizations receiving Portage Resale Center grants in 2019:

• Riders Unlimited Inc.
• Ottawa County Family Adviocacy Center
• United Way of Ottawa County
• Light Hour Sober Living Men’s House
• Light Hour Sober Living Women’s House
• Riverview IndustriesBistro 163
• Ottawa County Family and Children First Council
• Heartbeat of Ottawa County
• Women Helping Young Mothers
• The American Red Cross
• Pathway inclusion Center
• The Oak House
• WSOS Community Action Commission Inc.
• Danbury Food Share Program
• Seed Faith Food Pantry
• Arc of Ottawa County
• The Salvation Army
• St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
• Shoreline Church Car Care Ministry
• Shoreline Church Food Pantry
• Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center
• St. John Lutheran Fill the Gap
• Ottawa County Holiday Bureau
• PRC Youth Council
• Joyful Connections
• Bible Methodist Church – Kids Club Youth Group
• Ida Rupp Public Library
• Friends of the Marblehead Peninsula Library
• Firelands Counseling and Recovery Services
• Clothing Corral
• Ottawa County Juvenile Court — Teen Christmas Boxes
• Community Support Services
• Ottawa County Transitional Housing
• Bataan Primary Elementary School — Kindergarten Readiness
• Champions for Children
• Bataan Primary Elementary School — Watch D.O.G.S.
• Stein Hospice Service Inc.
• Elmore — Grace Lutheran Church Food Pantry
• Genoa Area Community Food Pantry
• Oak Harbor Alliance Chapel Food Pantry
• Oak Harbor United Methodist Church Food Pantry
• BCS Food Pantry
• Church of Truth Ministries Food Pantry