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Humanitarian of the Year: Joy Johnson (left) and Dan Johnson (right) and the Duneland Resale, Inc. receive the Humanitarian of the Year award at the Chesterton Duneland Chamber of Commerce Summer Awards Luncheon. John Marshall, Chamber Board Member made the presentation. The Resale Shop has donated over $80,000 to the community since it began in March 2001. (Tribune photo by Dana Gilbertson)
What happens when you receive a donation of 15,000 golf balls? The Duneland Resale Inc. shop is selling them for $4 a dozen to help raise funds for local charitable needs. Donations like the golf balls, as well as a myriad of clothing and other items, have allowed this relatively new organization to have a major positive impact on the Duneland area. The Duneland Resale shop began in March of 2001 as an outgrowth of the Mission Committee of St. John’s United Church. The organization was officially incorporated on April 4, 2002 as a 501 (c)3 Corporation. Currently the group is represented by approximately seven local churches that dedicated over 1,200 volunteer hours per month. It is truly a “community effort” and not tied to any specific church. This valuable service organization located at 221 N. Calumet Rd. is run by a six person Board of Directors. The shop works in tandem with various food pantries, service agencies, township trustees and pastors to help local citizens attain self-sufficiency. Donations of quality clothing, furniture, and miscellaneous merchandise are gladly accepted. To date, the Duneland Resale Inc. shop has given back over $80,000 in support to the community. Besides cash donations, the shop volunteers annually at Christmas in April and the local nursing homes. Its Second Chance Choir participates in the annual Community Sing and also sing at the Dunes Campground. Dan and Joy Johnson, who have managed the resale shop since its inception, also share their love of humanity beyond their own community. They regularly volunteer for the Habitat for Humanity in Kenya and have been instrumental in many improvements to a children’s hospital and orphanage in Ukraine. Joy says one of the babies in the orphanage has been named after her. The Johnsons and Duneland Resale Inc. were honored as Humanitarian of the Year at a recent luncheon of the Chesterton Duneland Chamber of Commerce.
Posted 7/24/2003
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