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LAH Real Estate — The Resale to the Rescue team in front of their store in Pell City. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

Resale to the Rescue is a nonprofit second-hand thrift store in Pell City that donates 100%—yes, you read that right—of their profits to Animal Savers Pell City, Inc (ASPCI). We spoke to Dana Ellison, the leader of this all-volunteer team, to learn why Resale to the Rescue is so impactful.

How Resale to the Rescue started

Resale to the Rescue is the brainchild of Pell City resident Dana Ellison, an LAH Real Estate agent and the expert on lakeside properties at Logan Martin. A lifelong lover of animals, Dana has served on the board of ASPCI for nearly 10 years. The nonprofit works with rescue organizations to help with shelter animal adoptions and to reduce pet overpopulation with their low-cost Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP).

“I come from humble beginnings, and I know what it’s like to live on a budget. Animals bring so much joy and love to our lives, but a lot of people can’t afford to properly take care of them, which is why we have so many animals on the street and in our shelters. I’m just one person trying to make a difference.”
Dana Ellison, Founder of Resale to the Rescue + LAH Real Estate agent

In 2019, ASPCI chose to stop Mardi Paws, the organization’s annual fundraiser, due to the massive commitment it involved. Luckily, Dana had a great idea to replace the event.

“My husband and I had just come back from a trip to New Orleans where I happened upon this great consignment shop called ‘No Fleas Market’. It was run entirely by volunteers, sold donated items and used all the proceeds to find homes for pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina. I took that idea back to the ASPCI board and they told me to run with it.”
Dana Ellison, Founder of Resale to the Rescue + LAH Real Estate agent

With approval from the board, Dana located a retail space and officially opened Resale to the Rescue to the public. Within days, donations began to pour in.

The impact of Resale to the Rescue

In the two years that Resale to the Rescue has been open, the store has seen massive success and support.

“We have had some phenomenal donations, including people that sell their home and choose to donate their furniture and heavy items. Our team will bring a van or a trailer, load it up and take it back to Resale to the Rescue. That person can write off that donation on their taxes and we can benefit from the sale. In our first year, we made about $75,000 and were able to buy a new, larger transport van for ASPCI.”
Dana Ellison, Founder of Resale to the Rescue + LAH Real Estate agent

That new van is used to transfer hundreds of animals from currently overcrowded shelters in the south to shelters in the north that actually have a lack of animals to adopt out. The ASPCI team typically makes four trips a month, bringing over 80 animals to their new homes.

The good work of Resale to the Rescue would not be possible without its all-star team of volunteers.

“The shop is open Thursday through Saturday from 10AM to 4PM, and we have a fantastic group of retired women that run the whole operation in half-day shifts. They look forward to coming in to see each other and talk to new people. The shop is in good hands!”
Dana Ellison, Founder of Resale to the Rescue + LAH Real Estate agent

After getting Resale to the Rescue up and running, Dana Ellison hired Lisa Bento to serve as manager. This allows Dana time to focus on her real estate clients.

What you’ll find at Resale to the Rescue

Resale to the Rescue is not your typical thrift or consignment store. For starters, they don’t accept just any old items.

“We are what most call an upscale thrift store. People donate their gently-used items and we accept, clean, sanitize, price and sell those items to the public. Those items can be as small as light fixtures, baby items and jewelry or as large as sofas, beds and other furniture. We will not take or sell anything that has been roughly used or in poor shape—we have a quality standard we want to uphold.”
Dana Ellison, Founder of Resale to the Rescue + LAH Real Estate agent

In addition, Resale to the Rescue doesn’t deal in used clothes—the racks simply took up too much valuable space in the store.

Visit Resale to the Rescue today!

Address: 20 Cropwell Dr #120, Pell City, AL 35128
Hours: Thursday-Saturday | 10AM-4PM
Contact: 205.234.0808 | Facebook

If you haven’t visited Resale to the Rescue yet, what are you waiting for? Make plans to visit today and shop easy knowing your purchase tangibly improves the lives of our four-legged friends.

And, if you’re looking for the perfect lakeside property at Logan Martin, LAH Real Estate’s Dana Ellison can help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Click here to contact Dana Ellison.

Have you visited Resale to the Rescue in Pell City? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!

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