A Mentor Thrift Store Where Every Shift Behind the Counter Builds a Résumé

At 8664 Lakeshore Boulevard, between the commercial storefronts that line one of Mentor's busiest corridors, a thrift store is doing double duty. Hannah's Harbor sells gently used household goods to the public — and trains mothers in crisis to run the place.

Every task on the floor, from pricing donations and stocking shelves to working the register and helping customers, is documented work experience the women can carry into a job interview. The training covers customer service, cash handling and point-of-sale systems, inventory management, time management, teamwork, marketing and online sales.

"Many of our moms face challenges when it comes to employment — from childcare to transportation or simply needing a safe environment to learn new skills," said Vicki Krnac, executive director of Hannah's Home, the nonprofit that operates the store. "Hannah's Harbor was created to meet those needs."

From Maternity Home to Main Street

Hannah's Home, a Christ-centered nonprofit maternity home at 8525 Lakeshore Boulevard, has served single pregnant women ages 18 and older since 2001, providing free housing and support services for mothers and their babies. The organization temporarily closed in late 2012 and reopened in 2014 after a fundraising and volunteer push. Over roughly 23 active years, it has supported more than 130 women.

The residential home has six rooms for mothers and their children. Residents can stay until their child turns 2, and depending on circumstances and goals, some are eligible to remain for up to three years. Hannah's Home describes its residential services as a three-phase continuum of care: Phase 1 covers pregnancy, maternity leave and returning to work, while Phase 2 moves mothers into upstairs apartments for more independent living, though the organization's annual report notes the program currently operates in two phases.

In 2024, Hannah's Home served 23 mothers and 21 babies — 10 of them born that year — and six mothers graduated to Phase 2 apartments.

The nonprofit also runs the HHOPE Program, a non-residential outreach launched in 2022 that extends counseling, case management, pregnancy and parenting classes, life-skills training, emotional support and material aid to mothers who do not live at the maternity home.

The thrift store is the latest expansion of that mission, according to a City of Mentor profile published Oct. 30, 2025. Krnac said the name itself signals what the space is meant to be: "A harbor is a safe place for ships to dock — protected from the storm. That's what we hope this space represents for our moms."

How the Training Works

Mothers in the program learn by doing the daily work of retail — organizing and pricing donations, merchandising inventory, serving customers. In-home daycare support allows them to take shifts while their children are cared for, and a larger daycare facility is planned. The result is hands-on experience documented well enough to support future job applications and build a résumé from scratch.

What the Store Sells — and What It Accepts

Hannah's Harbor carries gently used décor, dishes, cookware, coffee mugs, toys, baby goods, small furniture, clothing and books from earlier donations.

The store is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Donations are accepted 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Accepted items include shoes, jewelry, purses, household goods, toys, small furniture and some exercise equipment. The store is not currently accepting clothing or books. It does not take mattresses, bed frames, bedding, pillows, large furniture, undergarments, strollers, car seats, cribs or electronics.

Where the Dollars Go

Hannah's Home is funded by local churches, businesses and individuals, and every purchase or donation at Hannah's Harbor feeds back into that broader support structure. Shopping or donating supports the job-training program directly and helps fund the nonprofit's residential and outreach services.

For Mentor, the storefront puts the nonprofit's work in plain sight on a commercial corridor — turning retail traffic into documented skills, job references and, for mothers rebuilding their lives, a concrete pathway toward independence.