–Geauga Habitat for Humanity ReStore Profits from Selling Donated Goods–
In the heart of Geauga County, along a winding and wooded stretch of Kinsman Road in Newbury Township near Punderson State Park, passersby may be taken by surprise by the sudden appearance of a bustling retail store on the north side of the road. The store, simply called ReStore, is an outlet doing a brisk business in home furnishings and décor, as well as building materials. Each sale not only provides excellent merchandise at rock-bottom prices, but also helps build homes for qualified Geauga County residents in need of affordable housing by way of its affiliation with Geauga County Habitat for Humanity.
Now approaching its third anniversary, Geauga’s ReStore has contributed more than $500,000 to Geauga Habitat for Humanity, enhancing the group’s ability to deliver on its promise to provide safe, sturdy, energy-star rated homes to low-to-moderate income families. ReStore contributed more than $240,000 in its third year alone.
One of several hundred ReStores across the country, Geauga’s store is widely known as one of the cleanest, most organized and most customer-friendly, not to mention profitable, thanks to a team of 65 volunteers who work each week under the direction of store manager Meredith Dasco and Geauga Habitat executive director, Betty Kimbrew.
The 11,000-square foot store is organized into sections. One includes furniture, artwork, housewares, and lighting. The other carries electrical and plumbing supplies, windows, doors and other building materials, as well as tools and appliances. Everything in the store is clean, in excellent condition, and working properly. Some items – such as display models donated from area furniture stores – are actually new.
Inventory is priced well below retail, and each week there are special sales on certain items. In addition, there are storewide sales several times a year and even bigger blowout sales on the store’s anniversary. For instance, on the store’s third anniversary on July 19 and 20, everything in the store will be marked down 30 percent. Unique and hard-to-price items like World War II memorabilia, Heisey glass, or a toy vintage slot machine are likely to find their way onto the ReStore’s silent auction list. View the auction items online, or see them in person at the store. Store inventory changes daily, and new silent auction items are typically posted on three-week cycles.
Membership is not required to shop at the ReStore which is open to the public on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations are accepted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Arrange for pickups of large donated items by calling the store at 440-564-7475.
Geauga Habitat for Humanity ReStore
12180 Kinsman Road
Newbury, Ohio
Open to the public on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
440-564-7475
