ReStore Blog

ReStore by the Numbers

Written by Regina Eckes | Aug 30, 2022 8:58:11 PM

ReStore is nothing without our tremendous supporters who provide donations, volunteer their time, and make purchases. Take a look at all ReStore – and YOU – accomplished last year.

Donations

In total, 20,780 donations were dropped off at ReStore or picked up by our pickup service during the last year. Donations from you are what keep ReStore unique! Shoppers, volunteers, and staff alike love seeing what comes through the door, and shoppers continue to come back because there’s always a great treasure to discover. The more donations we get, the more robust our inventory is.

If you’re considering donating to ReStore, take a look at our Donation Guidelines and let us know if you have any questions. When you’re ready, stop by either ReStore location to drop off your items or schedule a pickup! Some items you may not know you can donate include cabinets, doors, flooring, appliances, and paint (we recycle with PaintCare).

Shoppers

Over the last year, 70,490 ReStore shoppers made a purchase. Some people shop at ReStore because they’re enthusiastic DIYers or home renovators. Some people shop at ReStore because of the great prices and deals offered throughout the year. Some people shop at ReStore because they want to support Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s mission of creating and preserving affordable housing. Whatever reason brings you into one of our locations, we’re grateful!

View the entries from our 2022 Spring Upcycle Challenge to see how our DIY shoppers have repurposed a variety of items. And if you haven’t already, sign up for ReStore’s Hot Deals emails. Every other week we keep you informed on the newest sales.

Environment

Whether you donate to ReStore or you make a purchase, you’re helping divert 3.9 million pounds of materials from landfills. That’s a huge win for the environment! Landfills are big contributors to soil pollution and greenhouse gases, which negatively affect plant and animal life, and the world around us. ReStore accepts a lot of items, but we can't take everything. Check out other Twin Cities donation resources to learn where you can donate items ReStore doesn't accept, such as medical equipment, electronics, and even cars.

Volunteers

More than 8,000 volunteer hours went into running our two ReStore locations during the past year. Some are regulars and have been helping ReStore for years; others complete just a shift or two a year. No amount of volunteer time is too small, and no volunteer task is too small, either. Volunteers do everything from unloading and sorting a wide assortment of donations to stocking shelves and changing out displays, keeping the stores clean and tidy, ringing at the register, assisting customers, and more. It takes all of us working together to make ReStore a great place to shop and donate.

If you’re interested in volunteering, sign up for a 4-hour shift to see if it’s a good fit for you—no experience needed. ReStore shifts are especially nice during the winter months when home construction sites are paused. Oh, and did we mention that volunteers receive a 20% discount on furniture, lighting, building materials, and more?!

Mission

Revenue from ReStore directly supports the programs and services of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, specifically the building of FIVE new homes each year! That’s five quality homes for five households looking to buy their first home. At Habitat and ReStore, we believe the importance of homeownership cannot be overstated. Safe and stable housing has been shown to improve a person’s health and wellbeing, improve education and test scores for children, build home equity and establish generational wealth, and create more robust communities.

Thank you for all you do to support ReStore!