ReStoring homes and lives

It's a handyman's heaven.

Walk into the Habitat for Humanity's ReStore in Hayden, and you'll be greeted by rows and rows of parts. From sinks to cabinets, doors to light fixtures, hardware to pipes, there's a little bit of everything related to building and furnishing a home.

"We take just about anything," said Renee Taylor, ReStore manager. "We're always looking for donations."

The proceeds from the ReStore helps the local Habitat for Humanity build and repair homes. They're also helping the environment by recycling good, usable materials. "We're not trying to make a fortune," Taylor said, "just raise some money for a good cause."

Ten percent of its net income is tithed to the national organization, which uses it worldwide in locations that have the most need.

ReStore is primarily a retail outlet where quality used and surplus building materials and home furnishings are sold for much less than normal prices. If you're looking for a special item that you can't afford to buy new, you might find it here.

It accepts pretty much anything except clothing, shoes and mattresses, Taylor said. The biggest sellers are appliances and doors. And it's always looking for donations - ReStore will even send out a truck to pick them up. It's a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, and donations are tax-deductible.

"Everything changes every day," Taylor said. "We don't know where we'll get it from or where we'll put it. Everything goes so fast."

The first ReStore was a small red barn on 16th and Hanley that was open one day a week. When it outgrew that space, It moved to Seltice Way and finally to its present location on Wyoming and U.S. 95 in Hayden.

There are 725 ReStores across the country, operated independently by affiliates with direction from the national organization. The local store is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and is run by paid staff and "absolutely wonderful volunteers."

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ReStoring homes and lives