cover story
the ReStore
Did you know... even a
donated doorknob can help Habitat? Construction renovation deconstruction
...it all can work for Habitat.
Habitat ReStores accept donated goods. ReStores keep good, reusable materials from filling up landfills. Most ReStores focus on home improvement goods like Donations come from manufacturers residential builders retailers restaurants hotels schools
furniture home accessories building materials and appliances.
and from individuals like YOU. Items are brought to ReStores, then items are bought from ReStores by bargain hunters who come across the very thing they are looking for.
Like just the right doorknob. The best part is that the ReStore sales generate much-needed funds for building. And that’s how a donated doorknob helps Habitat do more!
SHOP • DONATE • VOLUNTEER
Watch the animated short video on YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjOBeygBYPg
the ReStore
The “ReStory”
Furniture, cabinetry, tubs, toilets, appliances, doors and windows. Gently used items like these have been consistently donated to Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the country by supporters who want to help. Prior to 1991, these good intentions were not always a good fit. These donors thought we could use their items in Habitat homes. Though the generosity was greatly appreciated, it proved impractical to redesign blueprints to fit the dimension of specific doors, windows and cabinet sets that had been donated. Looking for a practical solution, the Habitat ReStore was born. Starting in 1991, Habitat affiliates began selling these donated items to the public through the ReStore concept and using the proceeds to help cover the cost of building homes for low income families. Two decades later, there are nearly 800 Habitat ReStores in the United States. Our Habitat Pinellas ReStore opened in 2004, 19 years after our affiliate was established. Since its inception, our ReStore has been growing consistently. Our 2011 relocation to 13355 49th Street N. in Clearwater has helped enhance our visibility in the community, escalate sales, and increase the ReStore proceeds that help us build homes. With the support of local media outlets, the relocation to our larger facility has been the impetus for a new focus on limited TV and radio advertising to help spread the word and put the Pinellas ReStore on the map. Our recent television spot was just awarded “Best Retail Ad” for all Bright House viewing areas. (Thank you Bright House and Mike Featherstone!)
Something for Everyone.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Never has that been more true than at a Habitat Restore! The ReStore has become a haven for do-it-yourselfers and salvage artists searching for inspiration and bargains on furnishings they can transform into treasures. But our ReStore also provides handymen and small contractors a steady source of super low-priced building materials. It is what sets us apart from the average thrift store. From large scale doors and windows, tubs and toilets, to small items like electrical outlet fixtures and, yes, doorknobs, the ReStore offers an ever changing supply of salvaged home improvement and remodeling items. We also receive donations of paint, stain and sealant, as well as moulding, tile and laminate flooring.
doors photo
Going Green.
A happy by-product of the Habitat ReStore concept is its significant contribution to environmental responsibility. Each year we have kept more than 250 tons of perfectly good items from ending up in the landfill. This fiscal year we project we will take in nearly 400 tons of recyclable items! Our donors can feel good about “going green” and receiving tax deductions for their contributions, knowing their recycled items will provide muchneeded funds for Habitat to build affordable homes for low-income families locally. – Doug DuPont, ReStore Manager
the ReStore
ReStore Volunteer Needs Deconstruction Team
The ReStore is building a volunteer deconstruction team. What is deconstruction, you ask? This is a free service we provide to homeowners who plan to demolish an existing home to rebuild a new one. Our deconstruction team uninstalls all the reusable appliances, cabinets, doors, electrical and plumbing fixtures from the home to resell them in our ReStore. We are currently performing about 12-15 deconstructions per year throughout the county and would love some assistance from mechanicallyinclined volunteers. Email the ReStore if you have any interest. We normally provide a minimum of one week notice for these volunteer opportunities.
DIY Inspiration
Are you a DIYer or repurposer? We are always looking for creative people to help us maximize the value of our donations, give us ideas on how to repurpose items or even just send us before-and-after photos of ReStore purchased items for us to blog about or post to our Pinterest account. If you are interested or have photos, please email the ReStore address below.
SHOP • DONATE • VOLUNTEER 13355 49th St. N., Clearwater, FL 33762 (southeast corner of 49th and Ulmerton) Store Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 am - 5 pm Sat. 9 am - 4 pm, Closed Sun.
727.209.2199 • ReStore@HabitatPinellas.org www.HabitatPinellasReStore.org
With the help of our shoppers, donors, and volunteers, the ReStore has raised over $400,000 for Habitat Pinellas, and we keep more than 250 tons of materials out of the Pinellas County landfill each year.
Store Staffing
Cashiers and donation scheduling volunteers are also needed. These positions require a minimum of one full day per week. You don’t need to lift a heavy appliance or sofa or swing a hammer. We only need you to lift a telephone receiver, pen and hopefully a stack of $20s to put into the cash register!
Follow us on social media for great DIY ideas and be the first to know when the ReStore gets in cool stuff and big shipments!
community partners
jcpenney joins with Habitat for Humanity this May to build decent housing. When you shop at jcpenney stores or online during the month of May, you can support Habitat for Humanity. At checkout, associates will invite you to round up to the nearest dollar – donating your change to Habitat for Humanity International to build strong communities. The fundraising campaign is part of jcpenney’s charitable giving program, jcp cares. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and renovates simple, decent houses with the help of homeowner families here in Pinellas County and around the world.
Spring into action in May at jcpenney to support Habitat for Humanity. As part of “jcp cares,” you can round up your purchases to the next dollar to help Habitat build a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Support Habitat’s BUiLD movement next time you shop at jcpenney stores or online at jcp.com.
Bank of America’s Strategic Alliance with Habitat Habitat for Humanity International and Bank of America announced they have formed a new three-year strategic alliance to turn up to 2,000 donations of vacant land and vacant single-family residences into affordable housing in partnership with lowincome families. The bank will donate vacant properties to Habitat affiliates across the country that meets program qualifications. Habitat will turn the Bank of America donations of low-value and of-value distressed properties into affordable housing. Habitat Pinellas has received seven property donations thus far. In late February, after renovating one of the St. Petersburg properties, Habitat Pinellas dedicated the refurbished home for the Savitskiy family and in late April, we dedicated the Wolfe-Gamble family home, a new home built on the site of a demolished blighted house. It is projected that Habitat Pinellas may receive as many as 20 property donations throughout the duration of this program.
Publix returns as Blitz sponsor Steve Fisher, Publix District Manager, presents Tammie Cariger with her house key at the conclusion of our 7-day Blitz Build event on February 17. Publix Super Markets Charities was the sponsor of one of this year’s Blitz homes – their sixth Habitat Pinellas home! The second Blitz home was sponsored by our Hammers & Heartstrings Gala proceeds for the McComish family.
In addition to the property donations, for nearly a decade Bank of America has been providing operational grant donations that have provided contributing sponsorships for several Habitat Pinellas homes. Teams of Bank of America volunteers also regularly work on our home build sites throughout the year.
Cox Media Group sponsors radio spots
Cox Media Group Tampa has been generously airing spots this spring for our ReStore on their six FM radio stations including Magic 94.9, The Eagle 107.3, Hot 101.5, WSUN 97X, The Dove 105.5 and The Bone 102.5.
Homeowner Tracy Jackson listens as Bill Goede, Tampa Bay market president for Bank of America, speaks at the dedication of her home, of which Bank of America was a contributing sponsor.
As part of Cox Media’s community outreach program, Deb McLean, director of strategic partnerships for Cox Media, agreed to provide Habitat Pinellas with $25,000 in airtime, in addition to the company’s employee volunteer days working on Habitat build sites. Most recently, on April 18th, 30 Cox Media employees were working on three separate Habitat build sites.
volunteer spotlight
Ten committed Habitat Pinellas volunteers traveled to Guatemala April 6 -14 to participate in our first-ever Global Village build! Led by site supervisor Gaby Camacho, the team included Renee Athey, Deanna D’Abbraccio, Kitty Handwerk, Charles and Mary Miller, Barbara Morgan, Richard Pearson, Habitat COO Ron Spoor, and Dan Stowers. The team put in very full days on two build sites, where most of the tasks typically done with power tools and machinery are done entirely by hand. For instance, the team mixed tons of concrete with shovels before delivering it by hand in buckets to fill the steel reinforced block walls. And the cement block is cut with machetes! The modest metal-roofed homes are small, typically 2-bedroom/1-bathroom plans. “As you can imagine, the homes are very different from Pinellas homes,” said Ron Spoor. “The square footage is in the 400-550 foot range. There are some electric fixtures and running water, and the kitchen sink is outside. The interior and exterior walls may have stucco or just exposed CMU and the floors are concrete. These homes are very plain, but they are very sturdy. They are a huge improvement from current conditions.” “We really worked hard, but we also had so much fun! ” said Gaby Camacho. “The
“Vamos a Construir!” (Let’s Build!) Our Global Village volunteers sporting their yellow team shirts with Habitat Guatemala staff, volunteers and family members. Below left, Richard Pearson cuts block with a machete. Center, the team attended a home dedication. Right, Kitty Handwerk, Renee Athey and Deanna D’Abbracio with some Guatemalan friends.
people are very hospitable and nice. We were happy to come back home, but at the same time, I feel a void in my heart leaving the families, the Habitat Guatemala staff, masons, helpers -- all those we grew close to in only a few days.” “Guatemala is a country filled with both beauty and poverty,” said Ron. “We hope to plan future build events with Habitat
Guatemala. Before that time, we will continue to send our “house for a house” contribution to both Malawi, Africa, and Guatemala. Each time we dedicate a home in Pinellas, we will also be celebrating in spirit the dedication of the “sister” home built with our contribution in either Malawi or Guatemala.” – Gaby Camacho, Site Supervisor/Procurement Officer and Ron Spoor, Chief Operations Officer
Habitat Pinellas Volunteer Honored Nationally Dan Stowers, a long-time Habitat Pinellas supporter, has received one of Habitat International’s highest honors, the “Clive Rainey Lifetime Achievement Award.” Dan was recognized in March at the Habitat for Humanity national conference in Atlanta in front of an audience of 2,100 Habitat for Humanity affiliate staff members from throughout the U.S., including several members of our own staff. The annual Clive Rainey Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to volunteers for significant accomplishments that have advanced the mission of Habitat for Humanity. The award honors Habitat’s first volunteer, Clive Rainey, who made an exceptional, sustained commitment to advancing Habitat for Humanity’s mission.
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Dan Stowers is surrounded by Habitat Pinellas staff at the award presentation. From left: Ron Johnson, Dan, Ron Spoor, Robert Reeves, Amy Meek, Barbara Inman, Kevin Klucas, Robin Macar, Jacquie Ghourlay and Sonya Hundley.
building hope
Meet the Williams Family! Kalotta Williams is a care taker. A single mother of five, she had her hands full already when her sister unexpectedly passed away in 2009 leaving behind three children. To Kalotta, there was never a question. She would surely take her nieces in and give them a home. Living with eight children in a small four-bedroom home is enough of a challenge. But the family also had to contend with a substandard HVAC system that increased the electric bill significantly and an unsafe neighborhood. They’d even experienced a break-in just before Christmas.
The Williams family home was sponsored in part by Wells Fargo.
are committed to the process there is a great outcome in the end.” The Williams are grateful for all the help they’ve received from volunteers and plan
to pay it forward. “I am able and willing to help someone else make their ultimate dream come true,” said Kalotta. Below, the Williams family with Michelle Maner of Wells Fargo at the dedication of their home in St. Petersburg.
But Kalotta didn’t let that weigh her down. She worked hard to provide for her family and keep the children healthy and happy. Finding out they qualified for the Habitat Pinellas program turned their world around. “We will finally have a home to call our own. It will be a stable and safe place for the kids,” Kalotta said. Getting there didn’t come easy though. “Becoming a homeowner is a process and if you
“We will finally have a home to call our own.”
HABITAT
HEROES
A tribute to some of our many extraordinary Habitat supporters!
HABITAT PINELLAS VOLUNTEERS
FRANK ANTES JOHN GUGLIELMETTI WILL JERVIS PAM JOHNSON
JIM McGUSTY MARY MILLER LISA RABER HARRY SACHS
Pam Johnson and Mary Miller are among the Pennsylvanians who volunteer for us each winter. Inset, Will Jervis.
Pennsylvania Partners
For five consecutive years, a team of dedicated volunteers from Pennsylvania has journeyed to Florida for the Habitat Pinellas “Blitz Build.” The group, which includes both skilled and semi-skilled Habitat for Humanity enthusiasts, has been a key ingredient in the success of our Blitz Builds. Habitat Pinellas has indeed been very fortunate to have such great success with blitz building. Habitat staff have worked tirelessly to plan and supervise the accelerated schedules. And, support from the local community has been overwhelming – with thousands of Pinellas County volunteers joining in partnership to work on the Blitz Build homes. Having the Pennsylvania team join the local community each year has been a great encouragement and the skills and supervision that the team brings with them have provided a significant boost. The Pennsylvania team includes both men and women - all of whom enjoy building with their local Habitat affiliate - but who appreciate a break from building in the Northeast winters. We love the Florida winters too and are so glad that we get to share the sunshine and the Blitz building with our Pennsylvania friends. Let’s build! – Ron Spoor, Chief Operations Officer
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
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13355 49th Street North Clearwater, Florida 33762
ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33770
PERMIT # 18
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what you can do • VOLUNTEER! to help our families • DONATE! • SHOP our ReStore! and Habitat...
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Gamble family
Visit us at www.HabitatPinellas.org to register as a volunteer, make a donation or learn more about our program!
Habitat Pinellas homeowner Heidi White and her family