News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Jean Kowalski hangs up a dress while volunteering at the new Ana’s Treasures resale shop in Alpena on Thursday. Proceeds at the store go directly to foster families, who are also able to shop for free to get items they need to help support the foster child.

ALPENA — A new resale store in Alpena isn’t in business to make money, but to help foster families acquire the items they need to help overcome the financial challenges that often come with taking a foster child into a new home.

The new retail shop is called Ana’s Treasures and is located in the Harborside Mall next to Save-A-Lot.

The store features a wide variety of gently used items that are for sale, with the proceeds going directly to local foster families.

The store is run with volunteers.

Mindy Thompson, the founder of Ana’s Treasures which also has locations in Standish and West Branch, said foster families are also encouraged to stop into the store and grab the clothes, toys, or household items they need, for free.

She said when a new child moves in, there is often a significant expense that comes with it and the new foster parents deserve help and support for their compassion they are showing the child and for opening their home up to them.

“We saw a need in the community and wanted to help,” Thompson said. “I don’t think people realize when a child is entered into the foster system, they usually come with nothing. Our stores help to fill the gaps.”

Besides letting foster parents shop for free, the shop makes monetary donations to them from the profits of the store. Ana’s Treasures is a 501(c)(3) non-profit group and sacrifices making a profit in order to support its cause and fulfill its mission.

Thompson said the money can be used by families to help purchase diapers and wipes, clothes, food, and other needs.

Ana’s Treasures also holds other fundraisers and events throughout the year to provide additional money for foster families.

Thompson said the shop is named after her daughter that she and her husband adopted out of foster care when Ana was a baby. Ana is now eight years old.

Thompson said word about the new resale shop, and what its primary goal is, has been slow to circulate in the Alpena area, but she hopes as word about it spreads, it will lead to more sales, donations, and assistance to those who need it.

Thompson said the store accepts material donations by simply dropping them off at the store. She said for donations that are more than a car load, a call to the store in advance would be appreciated, so more volunteers can be called in to help.

People can also make cash, check and credit card donations at the store, Thompson said.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.