Pathway Church's new Re-Store boutique will provide funds for a faith-based adult day program

By Ken McEntee

Jesus preached forgiveness.

And according to Re-Store’s slogan: 70 x 7 (Matt 18:21-22), even clothing deserves a second chance.

Kim Phillips, co-manager of Re-Store, believes that if you grow tired of your clothing, if it doesn’t flatter you anymore, and if you similarly feel the same way about a strained relationship, don’t just discard the clothing and likewise don’t just toss aside the relationship. Relationships mattered to Jesus.

That’s the inspiration for the name Re-Store.

Clean, gently worn second-hand garments and accessories get that chance every Friday morning at the quaint new Re-Store boutique, located inside Pathway’s building at the corner of Drake and Prospect roads.

“Re-Store gives people a chance to find enticing bargains on quality items, but our main purpose is to provide vocational and life skills to participants in our upcoming PALs adult day program,” explains Kim, a long-time advocate for developmentally disabled people. “All of the sales proceeds from Re-Store will go directly to the adult day program—to promote the vision of that ministry.”

They are expecting the adult day program to be certified and operating this fall.

Until the PALs program gets up and running, Kim and Co-Manager Lisa Trojan will run the store, which is now open on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The store offers clothing for women, men and kids of all sizes, along with scarves, handbags, jewelry, shoes and other accessories. On the first Friday of each month, the shop also will offer home decorations and other household items.

The shop has buyers who scout out fabulous items to sell, and it doesn’t accept donations from the public, Kim says.

Re-Store is tucked away inside a refurbished racquetball court—a leftover from the building’s earlier use as Strongsville’s original recreation center.

“Once PALs is operating, Re-Store will provide participants with valuable learning and work experience in the retail field, teaching skills like steaming, sorting, sizing, pricing, restocking and interacting with people through customer service, greeting and cashiering,” Kim says.

“Our goal is also to help them develop general skills that are necessary for competitive, integrated employment in the community, such as the ability to communicate effectively with supervisors and co-workers, knowledge about generally accepted community workplace conduct and dress and the ability to follow directions and attend to tasks.”

But, Kim emphasizes, you needn’t hold off until the adult day program is operating to visit Re-Store.

“Why wait?” she asks. “We have a summer inventory to blow out.”

God’s grace and love are extravagant, but Re-Store’s prices are not.

Pathway has served the Strongsville community since it held its first service at Kinsner Elementary School under the name of Forest Hills Community Church in 1999. In 2004, the name was changed to Pathway Church and the mission statement, “Discovering Life—Following Christ” was added to better reflect the church’s ministry. The next year, Pathway acquired the old recreation center and made it home.

Pathway Church is located at 21211 Drake Road, in Strongsville. For more information, you can call 440-878-9890or email Kim Phillips at kim@onthepathway.org or Lisa Trojan at lisa@onthepathway.org.