Hidden treasures with bigger purpose: Inside Habitat for Humanity ReStores

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores in Northern Kentucky are turning donated home goods into affordable housing opportunities for local families.

​Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores are owned and operated by the organization to generate revenue to build homes in the community. Two stores operate in Northern Kentucky. One in Bellevue at 15 Donnermeyer Drive and one in Florence at 7102 Turfway Road. The first ReStores opened in 2001.

​The stores are open to the general public. Anyone who’s looking for home improvement items, like furniture, appliances, paint, cabinets, doors and windows, can find their selection runs the gamut. All of the proceeds go back into Habitat for Humanity’s mission of envisioning a world where everyone has a safe, decent and affordable place to live.

​“Between the customers, the crew, the other employees at the other stores, we have fun with the customers,” said Florence ReStore Manager Traci Lawson. “When they’re remodeling or doing something, they’ll show us before and after pictures, and just to see some of the unique things that come into the ReStores that they put in their house, and how they can make it come to life. It’s pretty cool.”

​Habitat for Humanity Marketing and Communications Officer Sarah Reynolds said the clearest example of that mission is when they build houses in the community. The organization partners with first-time home buyers, helps them build their home, and then sells it to them with a 0% interest mortgage.  

​“One half of Ohio renters right now cannot afford the rent that they are paying, and so we feel a really important need in our community,” Reynolds said. “We say annually that each store helps to fill in the gap for about four homes. Because we sell our homes, we do get some profit back from the sale of those homes, but there is quite a big gap that we’re trying to fill, and so the ReStores help to fill in that gap.”

​Habitat for Humanity does not use any items from the ReStores for its home builds. They purchase all new items for those. The organization is currently building nine new homes in Covington.

​Habitat for Humanity also recently partnered with Newport and Covington to expand its repair program.

​ReStore items are primarily donated to the stores from people who have items that could use a second life, but the stores do purchase some items like its cabinets, countertops, flooring and paint.

The ReStore operates a little differently than some other consignment-esque shops. All appliances and electronics are tested to ensure they work, and all furniture is cleaned and, if necessary, repaired in the store’s workshop.

​A list of acceptable donations and how to donate can be found here. The stores also offer free donation pickup for larger items, such as appliances and large furniture. They do not accept items such as mattresses and clothing.

​“We can only exist because people choose to donate to us,” Reynolds said. “We’re really grateful for all of our donors.”

​Lawson and Bellevue ReStore Manager Katie Brewer said the furniture people donate to the ReStores tends to be nice, solid wood and much more durable than furniture sold in retail stores. Or they said there will be really unique pieces that they have never seen before.

​The ReStores constantly have trucks dropping off new donations, so the inventory is cycling in and out throughout the week. The managers said if you see something you like in the store, you’d better snag it or it will probably be gone when you come back.

​“I came from logistics and into retail,” Bellevue ReStore Manager Katie Brewer said. “So it’s totally two different worlds, and I absolutely just love it. The customers are my number one priority. Getting them to come to our stores, and  finding out who we are, trying to spread the mission.”

​Brewer said a good time to donate is when someone hosts a yard sale and not everything sells, bringing the leftovers to a ReStore.

​Habitat for Humanity Marketing and Communication Coordinator for ReStore, Sarah Sheffer, said if someone is part of a church or an organization, Habitat for Humanity is looking to start partnering with rummage sales at local churches and organizations. She said if a group is interested, contact the organization.

​The ReStore’s custom cabinets are new within the last year and are one of the store’s most popular items. Sheffer said they also recently started carrying a limited number of custom cabinets, available to purchase in-store for people who have smaller projects or already have cabinets from them and just need to replace or add something.

​“We have a relationship with a local manufacturer,” Reynolds said. “So they make the cabinets for us to sell custom to our customers’ kitchens, and they’re really high quality. So we have a lot of repeat customers who are contractors, who will come and only buy cabinets from the ReStore, because it’s a great deal.”

​She said people also like to go that route because they know it supports Habitat for Humanity’s mission.

​The stores utilize volunteers who will help test donations, clean or do whatever else the store may need.  

​“We have a couple of different programs that we do, like SNAP benefit programs where people can come in and get their hours,” Lawson said. “Some of them work 20 hours, 30 hours. I have had some who work 40 hours. We also have workers’ comp volunteers, where they’ll have to work so many hours, and then that company pays them, so it makes it nice, the free labor that comes in and gives us a hand when we need it.”

​Lawson and Brewer said they also get many students in need of volunteer hours at their stores. If someone is interested in volunteering, they can find more information here.