The StoreHouse of Community Resources
Social Change Agent
Jessica Johns began her career as an elementary school teacher, spending four years teaching in inner city schools, offering her a unique perspective into pervasive poverty. Upon moving to Grand Rapids in 2004, Jessica began volunteering at a food bank where she learned that while multiple organizations were supporting those facing food insecurity, a gap existed in the supply of durable, in-demand household goods. That led her to co-found The StoreHouse of Community Resources, which is focused on procuring scalable resources that support not only nonprofit organizations, but also schools. Since opening their doors in 2016, the StoreHouse has distributed over $25 million worth of new durable goods (including office supplies, personal hygiene products, furniture and more) to nonprofits and schools.
Jessica says, “There are multiple factors that place someone in poverty and even more that keep them in poverty. It takes a community of people willing to help bridge the gap to help people find their path to success.”