Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity announced that the Habitat ReStore will reopen on Monday, May 4.

The store will take all virus safety precautions including face masks and gloves, face shields for some, continued sanitizing during the day, and they have installed a plexiglass shield at the check-out counter. Donations will be low or no-contact drop-off.

Both sales and donation drop-offs will be open from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Friday, and from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday.

The ReStore will also have a Donation Day from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. this Thursday, April 30 for people to bring their household goods for donation and resale at the ReStore. This will be no contact and no assistance for unloading, but there is a dock for unloading large items.

Many people are "spring cleaning" during quarantine and have gathered things to donate to the ReStore. Proceeds from those sales help pay for administrative costs including employee salaries and building affordable housing. By offering these items for resale and recycling, the ReStore also keeps over 560 tons of materials from area landfills every year. A list of accepted items is on the website.

In addition, the ReStore has had continuing weekly auctions (here) of popular items on Bidding Owl. Each auction ends on Sunday and many items are "won" for the original starting bid price. Some popular items include new sewing machines donated by Singer, furniture donated by local hotels who are remodeling, vintage and antique items, and décor accessories.

Like many businesses and nonprofits, Rutherford Habitat has suffered great sales loss during the pandemic quarantine, including about $1,000/day from ReStore sales. During this time, all employees have been paid as usual, and they are eager to get back to work.

RCHFH encourages people to donate and support Rutherford Habitat on Giving Tuesday, May 5, and via The Big Payback, May 6 and 7. Early Giving opens this Wednesday on April 29. RCHFH Big Payback page: https://www.thebigpayback.org/RutherfordHabitatForHumanity

Habitat for Humanity has suspended having volunteers on the build sites and the ReStore for now but hopes to resume volunteering in the summer. The construction team will start building houses on the new Legacy Pointe subdivision in July.

The Leave a Legacy event with football legend Eddie George has been rescheduled for August 13. Tickets and sponsorships are still available at www.Eddie4Habitat.org. The Habitat office has been closed but employees will start returning to their desks on a limited basis next week and then be open to the public on May 11