Habitat ReStore general manager David Clark and store manager Penny Hauffe turn donations into sale items with proceeds used to fund Habitat for Humanity home builds. The staff and volunteers want the community to bring in donations and stop during the Spring Fling on April 11 and 12. Register photo by Ashley Allgaier

Don’t throw it away.

Before you put items you don’t want anymore out on the curb for the city clean-up, bring it all to the Habitat ReStore.

That extra flooring that’s taking up space in the basement, the bathroom sinks you’re about to toss – they can find new life at the ReStore. So can those desks the kids have outgrown, or the couch that you’re tired of, but that still has some life in it.

And you’ll feel better donating to a worthy cause than you would if you just add more debris to the landfill.

New and used items in good condition are accepted at the ReStore. And some in not-so-good condition, too.

The Brookings Area Habitat for Humanity has set a goal to build seven new homes this construction season. Help in reaching that mark comes from the Brookings Habitat ReStore, located on the Highway 14 Bypass just west of Western Avenue, where community donations are sold and proceeds used to help fund Habitat “builds.”

While the focus of the ReStore is to raise money to construct Habitat homes, it’s also become a place for bargain hunters and do-it-yourselfers to save money on home improvement projects.

It’s a handyman’s (or handywoman’s) treasure trove.

ReStore general manager David Clark and store manager Penny Hauffe have put together a ReStore Spring Fling to show the community the wide variety of donated items accepted and what’s up for sale.

On April 11 and 12, ReStore volunteers will be serving hot dogs, chips and a drink for a suggested donation of $1 each. Friday hours are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with the event continuing Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The event is timed to coincide with spring cleaning efforts. Clark and Hauffe want to see new or used items in good condition donated to the ReStore instead of going to the landfill. Broken or not working items are also accepted; the ReStore recycles what doesn’t work for salvage metals.

“By donating items for sale at the ReStore, they are directly helping Habitat,” Clark said.

“We’re hoping when people clean up their houses they will think of us,” Hauffe said. “It’s another way for people to help out Habitat.”

The ReStore accepts windows, large and small appliances, light fixtures, interior and exterior doors, tools, furniture, sinks, cabinets, countertops, window treatments, scrap wood, antiques, art, paint – anything that could be used for home improvement projects.

And if you can’t haul it in yourself, ReStore volunteers can arrange to pick up your unwanted goods for a $10 donation.

Hauffe encourages people to bring in those items they may think wouldn’t be of any use to anyone.

“Someone has a use for it,” she said. “It’s amazing what people need.”

Hauffe and Clark are always amazed at the ingenuity and creativity of ReStore shoppers who use odds and ends to make anything from a craft project to doghouse.

Individual donations are the majority of drop-offs, but local businesses have also been giving. The ReStore sells new items that were used for display, discontinued or vendor buy-backs.

When the ReStore opened in July 2007, it was empty. It’s now filled with home-improvement and miscellaneous items and duplicates held in storage – all coming from individual and business donations.

Because the ReStore features one-of-a-kind items donated and has no control over the inventory, the staff suggests checking the offerings regularly to find that special piece. That’s where the Web site, www.brookingsareahabitat.org/restore.php, comes in handy. The site shows links to featured items and an online inventory.

“Shopping at the store is also supporting Habitat. People feel good about buying here,” Hauffe said.

There’s just one thing to note when shopping at the ReStore: “If you like what you see buy it; it might be gone in five minutes,” Clark said.



Contact Ashley Allgaier at aallgaier@brookingsregister.com.