The ReStore, a branch of Habitat for Humanity, in Athens shares their mission, practices and stories over their four years in business.
Beyond an antique sewing table is an aisle of assorted household fixtures, facing rows of windows, doors and shutters.
This is a ReStore.
ReStores are a nonprofit branch of Habitat for Humanity. They are “home improvement stores and donation centers,” according to Habitat for Humanity’s website.
“Our only function is to raise money for Habitat (for Humanity),” said Molly Blair, the coordinator for the ReStore on 525 W. Union St. “The benefits are just gravy.”
These “benefits” are what she called inherent in running a reuse industry.
“We provide (for) people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to do repairs in their homes, we’re keeping items out of the landfill, and recycling.”
It does this by selling donated “new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances at a fraction of the retail price,” according to its website.
The donation process can work in a few different ways, one of which is deconstruction.
“It’s kind of like building in reverse,” Blair said. “If someone is tearing a house down, they can call and say ‘Hey, come get what you want.’ ”
This is something that Michael Vaughn, a full-time Habitat for Humanity employee, does, as he said his “job puts me out with donations.”
“Any time we go into old barns and old houses and are literally able to take anything we want,” Vaughn said. “That is my favorite part because it’s such a huge thing to donate.”
The strangest item ReStore has received?
Kiara Otlowski, also a full-time employee, says people have donated cars.
A white truck, now sitting in front of the store, was donated.
ReStore uses it to pick up donations.
ReStore has seen other unique donations in the four years it’s been in operation, including two in its current location.
“We had a beautiful baby grand at the old store in The Plains, right when it first opened,” Vaughn said. “It sounded amazing, and anyone that knew how to play would just sit down and start to play because it was just one of those beautiful pianos.”
An electric stove from 1958 stole Blair’s heart.
“We opened it up and it was gorgeous,” she said. “And the chrome, I took a toothbrush and shined it up. It was perfect.”
Athens’ ReStore also asks customers to “round up” their totals.
“When people go to the register we ask them to round their change up to the next dollar and that is just an added donation towards Habitat for Humanity,” Otlowski said.
This store receives about $12 a day from rounding up, which adds up to $3,000 to $4,000 per year.
“I had a guy round up $5 one time because he got a steal. He got a $3,000 fireplace and he only paid $187 for it,” Vaughn said.
A Zanesville ReStore location will open the second week in July.
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