Habitat for Humanity ReStore open to public for both donations and shopping
Habitat for Humanity ReStore of Isabella County
Students and community members looking to furnish their homes or apartments at an affordable price, look no further.
The Isabella County Habitat for Humanity ReStore features resale furniture which, when bought, helps to fund additional projects the ReStore puts on like helping to build houses. This is considered when pricing donated items, as wear and tear on the item determines what the restore will sell it for.
Anyone can purchase or donate used furniture at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, according to Isabella County ReStore manager Troy Nyquist.
Nyquist said many people are under the impression they must be receiving services through Habitat for Humanity to make a purchase, or those donating “think they are donating to someone we are building a home for, but that’s not what it is at all.”
“If a product comes in brand new - never used - we are supposed to price it at fifty percent of what you would buy it for," Nyquist said. "Its great in the college setting if you need something temporary."
The rest of the prices go down from there. Approximately 60 to 110 people stop in each week to donate used furniture. Services are provided to pick up furniture people would like to donate, but not to drop off furniture bought at the restore.
Stacy Todd, executive director for Habitat for Humanity in Isabella County, said due to the amount of apartment life in Mount Pleasant, there are many couches, chairs and other furniture that would fit in a smaller living space at the restore. All restores have different items in them depending on the area they are located in.
“We help keep things out of landfills because we are reselling them," Todd said.
Families who are chosen to have assistance from Habitat go through a three part application process.
“They have to have a need," Todd said. "They have to show there is a need for them to be out of a substandard living situation.”
The issues of many houses are overcrowding, sometimes the building or structure itself is not able to be repaired. When Habitat helps them rebuild, the family must also be able to repay a mortgage.
“If we are building a new home or doing a complete renovation for them, they have to be able to substantiate the funds involved in doing that," Todd said.
The families also must partner with Habitat and work on their project with them. Groups which sponsor Habitat for Humanity ReStore step in to help when the store itself cannot provide or repair things.
The ReStore is always looking for volunteers to help with their various projects. Applications are available on site at 201 East Pickard Street.
