Women’s Committee volunteers with Habitat ReStore\

By Robin Taylor

On December 7 the Women’s Committee participated in their final volunteer event of the year for Habitat ReStore. The committee has worked with Habitat ReStore several times throughout the year. They closed out the year helping Habitat ReStore prepare a large number of discounted items for their end of year sale.

Habitat ReStores are independently owned reuse stores operated by local Habitat for Humanity organizations. ReStores accept donations and sell a constantly changing inventory of diverse, high-quality merchandise to the public at a fraction of the retail price, while diverting reusable household items and building materials from area landfills.

Volunteering with Habitat ReStore was something the Women’s Committee wanted to do to give back to the organization after working with the Habitat Women’s Build project.

Women Build events provide the opportunity for women to take a proactive step in serving their communities.
“It was a great experience,” Steilita Locke, a new committee member, said.

Daniela Garcia Dunkel added that she “enjoyed volunteering.” Until she volunteered, Dunkel said she did not realize all the things Habitat ReStore does. “It felt so good to give back to our community.

“Volunteering our time and talents to the organizations in the community often involves a lot of labor-intensive work. Porsche Thomas “likes the clear instructions they provide to create a productive day. We work together as Local 249 members in an assembly line set up, and we accomplish in four hours a task that would take them a couple of days to complete.”

Habitat ReStore is always happy to see Local 249’s Women’s Committee. They greatly appreciate all we do to give back to their organization.

That type of gratitude and appreciation makes other committee members, like Lena Wiley say, “service is what life is about. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to do so with Habitat ReStore.”

Natisha Johnson believes “Habitat ReStore is such a valuable resource for the community. Not only do they sell home improvement supplies and furnishings at a discounted price, they also utilize a portion of their proceeds towards helping deserving individuals become homeowners. Knowing I’m able to contribute to those efforts, even in a small way is extremely rewarding.”

As the Women’s Committee looks forward to volunteering with them in 2023, Lynn Brown “loves being a part of Local 249 and giving back to our community.”