As a part of the celebration of 30 years of ReStores, we’ve taken a look back at those who helped us get here: our volunteers!
From the opening of the Habitat Bargain Center in 1991 to the launch of today’s Raleigh ReStore in 2007, a handful of volunteers per month could be found in the store. Today, the 10 Triangle ReStores host hundreds of volunteers per month, racking up over 40,000 volunteer hours each year!
Who are the ReStore Volunteers?
ReStore volunteers are people from right here in our community: Habitat Homebuyers, retirees, church or corporate sponsor groups, alumni groups, those completing community service hours and others who donate their time to helping further Habitat’s mission of bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope.
Our Core Volunteers are those who donate their time and hard work each week. Two of our Core Volunteers, Cathy and Liz, were on the founding board to create the Habitat Hand Me Ups store in Durham in 1995, which transitioned into the Durham ReStore you know today in 2009—talk about dedication!
What keeps volunteers coming back year after year? According to them, there’s more than one reason. Across the board, our volunteers mentioned the desire to support the mission, the inclusive and collaborative environment and the ability to work on a flexible schedule. The ReStore is a fast-paced environment where there is always something to do, and the work being done directly benefits our community.
Thank you to the Core Volunteers, the ones that come in once, twice, three times or more every week. The Triangle ReStores are powered by volunteers, and with your help, we have had 30 successful years, with many more on the horizon!
Click here to get involved in your community today!
A very special thank you to our Core Volunteers listed below. We are thankful for you now and always.
**indicates volunteers who have worked at two stores
Apex (opened 2014):
Tom – seven years
Phillip – five years
Graves – three years**
Mic – two years
Tammy – two years
Wes – started in 2021
Nathan – started in 2021
Tyler – started in 2021
Brier Creek (2019):
Carolyn – five years**
Manjula – five years**
John – three years**
Adele – two years
Indira – two years**
David – two years
Paul – two years
Sally – two years
Richard – one year
Cary (2011):
Donna – 10 years
Joyce – 10 years**
Ron – six years
James – four years
Jennifer – started in 2021
Juan – started in 2021
Clayton (2018):
Frank – three years
Takoda – started in 2021
Della – started in 2021
Durham (1995, 2009):
Cathy – 26 years
Liz – 26 years
Franklin – 22 years
Shelley – 22 years
Kathy – 12 years
Joan – 12 years
John B.– nine years
Renie – eight years
Jack – two years
Indira – two years**
Peter – started in 2021
Fuquay-Varina (2014):
Arleen – seven years
Kay – seven years
Vic – seven years
Becky – five years
Ed – five years
Chris – started in 2021
Melissa – started in 2021
Santiago – started in 2021
Tim – started in 2021
Glenwood Avenue (2016):
Mark – five years
Dan – five years
Dolores – five years
Joyce – 10 years**
Megan – five years
Carolyn – four years**
Greg – four years
Mason – two years
Ann – one year
Amanda – started in 2021
Lisa – started in 2021
OB – started in 2021
Tina – started in 2021
Hillsborough (2020):
Kathe – six years**
Ginger – started in 2021
John D. – started in 2021
Raleigh (1991, 2007):
Jay F. – started in 2021
Roscoe – started in 2021
Tyrone – started in 2021
Wake Forest (2015):
Jay P. – four years**
Jerry – three years
Mike – started in 2021