By: Jennifer Gardner
A non-profit business, offering customers new and gently used household goods at highly discounted prices may not seem like a ideal business endeavor, that is, until people experience the many benefits that come with it. This one-of-a-kind business is known as a Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Starting this June, people in the Oxford community will have a chance to help out a neighboring Habitat for Humanity chapter, located in Memphis, as they launch the reopening of their ReStore which has been closed for two years. As the reopening date approaches, people in and around Oxford can help the Memphis chapter by beginning to gather old household goods to donate to the cause.
Any profit received by the ReStore in selling donated goods will go directly to the daily operating funds needed by the organization. In gaining these excess funds, more donations will be allocated towards the actual homebuilding and volunteer recruitment process. “We hope to assist the Memphis area ReStore in the future by passing on surplus donations and/or items we will not use,” said Macel Juergens, Member of the Board of Directors for Oxford-Lafayette Habitat for Humanity Chapter.
The board members of the Oxford-Lafayette chapter are hopeful that a ReStore can eventually be launched for this area in the future as well. “Oxford might be able to support a ReStore if we had space-we need a grant. It could be open maybe 3 or 4 days a week…utilities are just ridiculous, and especially rent,” said Caitlin Clarke, board member of the Oxford-Lafayette Habitat chapter.
The Oxford-Lafayette chapter is willing and excited to work with the Memphis ReStore for numerous reasons. This partnership will help distribute some of the extra building supplies and donations that will not fit in the allotted storage spaces in the Oxford area.
The Habitat chapters all understand the importance of working together to ensure that Habitat for Humanity remains a successful and self-sustaining organization as a whole. “The ReStore will not only provide a green, budget-friendly shopping experience for Memphians, but it will also support Habitat’s work here in Memphis by helping us fund our daily operations and building projects,” said Dwayne Spencer, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis.
“We hope our community will shop, donate and volunteer at the ReStore in order to help impact the lives of their neighbors in need,” said Spencer. The buzz surrounding the June reopening not only helps to get people involved and excited, but it also lets the Memphis chapter feel support for the future success of their ReStore.
For any information on the ReStore opening, donating, or volunteering, please visit www.memphishabitat.com. If you are interested in recycling any building materials, please call 662-816-5897 or visit www.olemiss.edu/orgs/habitat/.
Sources:
Dwayne Spencer, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis, dspencer@memphishabitat.com
Macel Juergens, Board Member of the Habitat for Humanity Oxford-Lafayette Chapter, macelj@bellsouth.net
Caitlin Clarke, Board Member of the Habitat for Humanity Oxford-Lafayette Chapter, olemissh4h@gmail.com
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