Donation center needing more volunteers

By Anna Tuckett

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore began seeing an increase in donations the week before Thanksgiving, but needs more volunteers to meet the donation center’s new demand.

The center began accepting donations, including new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances, when it opened in Sept. 2014. Aside from the paid directors, the center relies on volunteers to organize, clean, and sort the donated merchandise.

“This is the time of year when people are remodeling their kitchens for Thanksgiving and Christmas,” said Todd Cottle, the director of the center. “This morning I came back to five new sinks that had been dropped off at the ReStore.”

Even with an influx of volunteers during the holiday season, the center said it needs more help to meet the growing need.

Cottle said the demand wasn’t as high the first holiday season the center was open because there weren’t enough people who knew about it, but now its getting large enough that he is considering looking for a new location.

During the majority of the year the center’s volunteers are mainly organizations, such as local companies and Boy Scout troops. But during Nov. and Dec. families call the center looking for opportunities to serve the community.

Cottle said during the holiday season people call the center after the Food Pantry meets its capacity. He said he hopes someday the center will have enough volunteers that he will have to turn people down.

The center sells the items people donate to the community at lowered prices. It is self-sustainable and any extra money the center makes is used to “build homes, community, and hope locally and around the world.”

More information available at: cachevalleyhabitatrestore.org.