Local Habitat’s ReStore to mark 15 years serving the community
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Menominee River ReStore manager Lori Lewis, left, and part-time employee Crystal VanHese hang light fixtures at the ReStore in Kingsford. The ReStore will celebrate its 15th anniversary in Kingsford this week. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY MENOMINEE River volunteer Brian Clark loads pre-made ramp decks onto a trailer for building a ramp at an area home. Part of the money raised by the ReStore is used by the local Habitat to finance construction projects and building repairs. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Menominee River ReStore manager Lori Lewis, left, and part-time employee Crystal VanHese hang light fixtures at the ReStore in Kingsford. The ReStore will celebrate its 15th anniversary in Kingsford this week. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY MENOMINEE River volunteer Brian Clark loads pre-made ramp decks onto a trailer for building a ramp at an area home. Part of the money raised by the ReStore is used by the local Habitat to finance construction projects and building repairs. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)
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KINGSFORD -- The local Habitat for Humanity ReStore is celebrating 15 years at its Kingsford site this month.
Habitat for Humanity Menominee River purchased the building at 113 S. Milwaukee Ave. in 2006.
The ReStore is marking the anniversary with a 15% off sale of all donated items through the anniversary weekend, starting Thursday through Saturday, with refreshments planned Thursday.
The concept of the Habitat ReStore began in Canada with a Habitat volunteer selling items out of his garage and donating the proceeds to his local Habitat affiliate.
This idea quickly spread, with most Habitat affiliates now operating a ReStore. All proceeds from the ReStore go to the local Habitat affiliate to be used for area home repairs and builds.
The ReStore is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
They have a "little bit of everything" in the showroom. They accept donations of gently used items such as: furniture, appliances, doors, windows, hardware and building materials. The inventory changes daily, if you find something you like, it's best to get it right away, they advise.
"I've had people come in the morning and when they come back later the item would be gone," noted Lori Lewis, ReStore manager.
This past year was a good one for the ReStore even with the COVID-19 shutdown and the collapse of the Iron River ReStore roof, resulting in a total loss of the building and the site being permanently closed.
"We received a lot of donations (during COVID) and then, when we were able to reopen, the response was good. We were not sure if people would venture out of their homes." Lewis said.
"Furniture is where most of our sales come from. We have people that come in looking for project pieces to repurpose; that's how I got started here," Lewis said. "So, when someone wants to donate a slightly damaged, vintage or antique piece, we don't usually turn it away."
Lewis began as a volunteer in the ReStore, then moved into a part-time position that led to becoming the manager of four part-time employees and several volunteers.
The ReStore will pick up certain items depending on the item and the location. "We take in what we can; we try to accommodate," Lewis said. "But there are just some things that we cannot accept, such as clothing and bedding. We direct the people donating those items to other non-profits in the area. We try to keep what we can out of the landfill."