As the area's economic challenges persist...the services of places like Bloomington's Home Sweet Home Ministry are even more important.

So, important that the ministry is expanding.

A new addition opened today at the Mission Mart.

Marcia Reabe and her mother come to the Home Sweet Home Ministry's Mission Mart often... and now it's twice the size.

Reabe says, "It's wonderful. It looks great. I know they needed the extra space. And this is a place you can shop and spend some money and they have a lot of bargains."

A new addition is now open... adding more children's clothes, books and even a special area just for the kids.

Another shopper, Sharon Griffin says, "It's going to be a great benefit to the store, and the community and the shoppers who need to save money."

Sabrina Burkiewicz is with Home Sweet Home.

She says, "Three months ago the roof of the existing store had failed, a complete structural failure. It was only 10 years old. We were completely devastated because we thought it would do us in financially. But we were able to get the roof repaired at a cost that we could afford, and what it did, it opened up the back part for us, and we thought why don't we just expand."

And according to Home Sweet Home officials... the additional merchandise is coming at just the right time thanks to 16 thousand dollars in state budget cuts.

Burkiewicz says, "More state funding could be cut. So we're looking at the future. What would happen if we don't have the 50 thousand dollars from the state? And mission mart is always going to be there for us. We don't have to worry that it's at the whim of a lawmaker. We're going to have that revenue coming in."

Also, with cuts at other social service organizations, rising unemployment, and an all-around lack-luster economy, more people are using Home Sweet Home's services.

Burkiewicz also says, "It's really helped drive people to second hand industry as a viable way to clothe their families, put stuff in their homes."

All the proceeds from the Mission Mart go back to programs at the Home Sweet Home Shelter and help feed the hungry.