Pathway Services Director of Development and Communication Stephanie Baptist says the donation has gone toward purchasing needed items for the resale shop.

"The grant will be used to purchase a point-of-sales software system, clothing racks, shelving, hangers, signage, security cameras, shopping carts and things of that nature," says Baptist. "Just things that you need to operate a store of any type."

The resale shop opened in November last year, after the organization renovated and relocated to the former Kmart building at 1905 West Morton.

Baptist says there are several goals of the shop.

“The most obvious is to recycle but to also provide employment and training opportunities to the folks here with disabilities," says Baptist. "In addition, we hope to create a new revenue stream so we can become less dependent on state funding."

Pathway Services has been providing services to children and adults with developmental disabilities and other physical and mental challenges since 1964.

Baptist says the resale shop has three employees, one of whom has a disability, and she hopes to have more opportunities for those with disabilities as the store grows.