MISHAWAKA, Ind. – A local resale store saw the need for animal rescue here in Michiana and made it a personal mission to help by creating an upscale thrift store called Resale to the Rescue to raise awareness and raise funds.

Resale to the Rescue in Mishawaka is a local non-profit resale store that started selling donated items about 5 years ago.

If you are looking for used decorative items, you will probably find most of them here. You can find anything from picture frames and sofas, to dining sets, furniture and more.

But, Resale to the Rescue doesn’t just use the profits to pay its own bills, the director of the nonprofit says about 90-100% of their income goes to five local animal organizations.

You can see the effects of their work on; Heartland Small Animal Rescue, Pet Refuge, Mission Meow, Frantz Fund and South Bend CARE

By financially helping local animal groups, they help increase the number of animals spayed or neutered, increase the number of adoptions and reduce the number of euthanized cases.

Right now, in total since opening, the resale store has raised $ 425,000 in donations and the goal is to reach half a million by the end of the year.

Ann Rudasics, who is the store manager and animal rescuer herself, says her own adoption experience fuels her passion to save more animals and keep their doors open.

“Saving a very special dog his photos in the other place he passed away but he was so close to being euthanized and he was such an amazing dog and we came a therapy dog ​​or a service dog . And when you realize that dogs like these are in shelters, a lot of them lose their lives, I just made it my mission to try and help somehow, ”he said. said Rudasics.

They also opened a second location just down the street from the original store last February.

Rudasics says the second location has been there for a while, but they figured it was time to finally open it up, creating additional spaces to clean up and quarantine items.

The company does the most to protect others by designating a special room on the back to sanitize the items it receives.

And, not only did they open a second location for the additional square footage, but it allowed another pop-up store to share their space at 805 W. McKinley Avenue.

“Chips and Doodles” which is a bakery that has created a pop-up station inside the resale store.

It was started by a mother-daughter duo who are also passionate about animal rescue.

Cassie Derr, who is one of the owners of “Chips and Doodles,” says she is able to deepen her passion for animal adoptions by sharing the space with Resale to the Rescue.

“What we get is donated,” Derr says.

Derr says being in the same space as these animal advocates is the perfect place to stay with a constant mix of passion and business, the perfect combo for Derr.

“It seemed like the perfect way to bring together these things that we love so much. My mom loves baking and we love the business that we started and we love animals, so that brings together everything we love, ”said Derr.

The two storefronts of The Resale to the Rescue help not only our 4-legged friends but also some 2-legged ones create a space to donate, shop and buy a tasty treat while making a difference.