As Executive Director at the Portage Resale Shop Brandon Miller is a man with a lot on his plate. That being said, since our last interview with him, Brandon still remains incredibly humble and dedicated to helping others through it all, striving always “to try…to be the hands and feet of Jesus, here on earth [by] using [his] time, talents, and treasures to help make life a little better for others.”
The Portage Resale Shop's initial mission has not changed and still continues to take donated items and sells them in order to help with overhead expenses. Brandon still describes the shop as operating under a Robin Hood sort of fashion…except completely legal.
“Our goal is not to make the most money, but rather help the most people. We help individuals with referral from other social service agencies like homeless shelters, housing programs, churches, trustees, and schools; with the necessities of life, clothing especially, but also shoes, houseware items, personal care items, linens, etc," he says.
The Portage Resale Shop also has been continuing their mission of donating over 2000 coats to those in need yearly.
Brandon explains that the shop even “make[s] sure that necessity items are priced lower than other resale shops, and [we] have special sales often to make sure people can get what they need.”
Included in these sales is the “Pay What You Can Sale,” which Brandon hopes will become the store’s reality rather than just a special event, with time and an increased donor base.
In order to make all this possible, Brandon takes on a number of roles at the store. As “we do not bring in enough money to fully cover expenses, I write grants and solicit donations to help make ends meet. I also handle all marketing and public relations. I am also head of maintenance, chief snow shoveler, problem solver, and decision maker in the day-to-day operations,” he says.
Acting as Executive Director comes with many responsibilities and obstacles. For Brandon though, he feels rewarded so much more by his work here than anywhere else.
“Some of my worst days at the Portage Resale Shop are better than my best days in the for-profit sector. I get to help be a middleman between people who have and people who need. We know at the end of the day, our work makes life a little easier, a little more normal, and a little more comfortable for people,” he stated.
One instance in which Brandon felt particularly moved by the work he is able to be a part of through the shop occurred a few years ago.
“A grandmother came in looking for a pack-n-play; it was the last item she needed in order to gain custody of her grandkids from DCFS,” Brandon recalled. Although the Portage Resale Shop did not have one, the woman asked Brandon to double check. “As I was in the donation area looking, a knock came to the back door. Standing outside was a young lady holding a pack-n-play. She told me that she had heard we needed one. Before I could even thank her she was gone. With tears in my eyes, I was able to give it to the grandmother who began also to cry,” he recounted. Brandon was very touched by this occurrence, and it is just one of countless others that make the work he does so worth it.
Brandon continues to find inspiration in his father Pastor Ken Miller who Brandon says “dedicated his working life to helping children as a school principal, and in retirement dedicates his life to serving others.
He leads by example, humbly and wanting no recognition. I aspire to be half the man he is.” Brandon also continues to find tremendous inspiration among the volunteers working with the resale shop dedicating countless hours of their time in order to help others, as well as in Ben Polhemus, the pastor who stepped aside in order for Brandon to become the Executive Director when he was in need of employment after having been laid off of his job with a steel mill supply company.
As a member of Crossroads Family Church, and formerly largely active member of the Portage Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, and the Portage Park Foundation Board, Brandon has lent a helping hand to his community in more ways than one.
To those looking to become more active in the community, Brandon urges you to “step out of your comfort zone, look around and notice the need. There are many organizations working hard to help others, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Find something you can be passionate about, humble yourself, and ask to help.”
Brandon finds it important to “follow Christ’s mandate to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and take in the stranger, loving one another as He loved us.” Working with this in mind, the impact Brandon has made and continues to make on his community is powerful and truly inspirational.
