FREMONT — When the Sandusky County Share and Care Center ran out of room for its ever-growing inventory of Christmas decorations earlier this winter, it opened a pop-up Christmas store in a vacant storefront on Oak Harbor Road.
Although the Christmas decorations have long been put away, the store still functions as Twice Blessed, a large resale store with room after room of merchandise, including clothing, decor, and furniture.
“It started because we needed a place to put our Christmas stuff. The whole building was Christmas. We had lights and trees, and one room was just wreaths,” said Lynette Kirsch, executive director of Share and Care. “From there, we thought about whether it would be good to have a second location to help people on this side of town.”
Twice Blessed has a bridal boutique
Twice Blessed has a wide range of furniture in stock, but the tentative plan is to pay more attention to clothing in the future. Executing that plan will enable Kirsch and her associates to implement changes at Share and Care, including creating wider aisles.
“We want to make it more comfortable to shop,” Kirsch said.
One of the benefits of having a second location is that there is room for a permanent bridal boutique in Twice Blessed. The bridal room features like-new, reasonably priced wedding dresses and a large dressing room where brides-to-be can comfortably try on dresses.
“There’s a chair in the locker room so Mom can sit there too,” Kirsch said. “The wedding dresses are beautiful. They are filled with beads and lace. I think the most expensive is $50.
Twice Blessed also sells prom and special occasion dresses, everyday wear, men’s suits, children’s wear and vintage clothing for all ages.
The store has vintage items that need a new home
“We take good care of people’s vintage items and find them new homes,” Kirsch said.
Twice Blessed sells home accessories, holiday decorations, jewelry and books. It operates under the umbrella of Share and Care, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides utilities, rent, and food assistance to those in need.
“We also help people who are homeless, and we give away a lot of free stuff when people move into an apartment,” Kirsch said. “Everything is priced here, but if someone is in need, we give it to them.”
In 2022, Sandusky County Share and Care distributed $150,000 in direct aid and donated $80,000 to a local Habitat for Humanity home.
“By shopping here you are helping your neighbors as your dollars will be recycled back in your neighborhood. Our slogan is ‘Neighbors help neighbours,'” Kirsch said. “We need customers and donations.”
Donations of clean, like-new clothing and household items are welcome and can be dropped off at the downtown location. Volunteers are always needed as manning two resale stores has been a challenge for Kirsch.
Twice Blessed is located at 1209 Oak Harbor Road in Fremont. It is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am to 7pm and every second Saturday of the month from 10am to 7pm
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Twice Blessed store is an extension of Share and Care Center