225 Franklin St., Silverton
503-845-2434
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Opening Celebration Jan. 15
By Kristine Thomas
Kim Parker used to avoid looking into the warehouse when she passed by on the way to her office. It was messy.
The warehouse now contains Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, a place for people to recycle items by donating them to be sold. Shoppers buy discount-priced home improvement supplies and building materials ranging from appliances to lumber and tools to furniture.
As the executive director for the North Willamette Valley Habitat for Humanity, Parker said despite volunteers’ hard work, the warehouse had piles of stuff here and there.
“It was like going on a treasure hunt to find anything,” Parker said.
Proceeds from ReStore sales support the mission of North Willamette Valley Habitat for Humanity, which serves the communities of Aurora, Canby, Gervais, Hubbard, Molalla, Mt. Angel, Silverton and Woodburn.
To date 29 families have moved into homes built by local Habitat for Humanity volunteers.
Parker said Habitat’s board of directors decided three years ago to open a ReStore as a way to generate revenue.
To get things in order and ready for ReStore’s opening event on Jan. 15, the board hired Connie Farrier in October. Since then, she has turned the warehouse into a store – working with volunteers to have like items in the same place.
“There was a time when one sink would be here and another there,” she said.
Farrier said what she enjoys most about her job is working with the volunteers. She also likes working for a nonprofit organization because at the end of the day her work feels fulfilling.
“I like the fact many of the things we have here are things that might have ended up in a landfill,” she said.
Both Farrier and Parker encourage homeowners to visit the ReStore before heading elsewhere.
“We carry almost anything you need for your house inside and out,” Farrier said.
After she finishes organizing the store, Farrier said she has plans to have classes on creative uses for the items. For example, she said, kitchen doors can be used to make signs, planter boxes or toy boxes.
“I enjoy finding new uses for things,” Farrier said, for example, a volunteer took pieces of countertop granite and made them into cutting boards.
Parker said she estimates ReStore will gross $55,000 from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. From July through November, it brought in $14,000.
Farrier would like donated materials to be no older than 10 years and they should be in saleable condition. Donations are accepted during store hours.
Since there are 13 ReStores in Oregon affiliated with Habitat for Humanity, Parker said if one store gets a lot of one thing, it will send some to other stores.
“We once got more granite counter tops than we could use and shared them with other stores,” she said.
Farrier said many of the items are sold at 25 to 75 percent discount.
“Before you go elsewhere, visit us and see what we have for your home,” she said.
