News from the Portland Metro Area ReStore
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Last night the wind blew the rest of the leaves off the dogwood outside my window, and next week is Thanksgiving. I haven't a clue where the time goes, but they say that happens as you get older. This time of year brings up lots of thoughts of holiday festivities, shopping, [traffic.........]. For us at the ReStore it brings up thoughts of donations. Lots of them. This next 6 weeks is when businesses, and many homeowners, remember that they need to get that donation in by the end of December. Just about every non-profit knows that donations come pouring in at the end of the year. And ReStores are no different.
We encourage you to remember us during this season of giving; whether its a donation of materials to the store, a cash donation to one of our affiliates, land for building homes, or a vehicle donation [the ReStore is in need of a pickup truck, our old white F-150 is retiring]. Please don't wait till the end of December, our staff and volunteers need them spaced out as much as possible, so bring them early. Also, businesses, it gets hard to schedule around the holidays so call us as soon as you can.
This is also a time to reflect on our giving, on what our purpose is as an organization and why we have this crazy thing called a ReStore. As a part of our community the ReStore gives a lot; we help families with the opportunity to own a home, we help communities by providing alternatives to the landfill and to the sad waste of perfectly good materials, and we provide community service opportunities to dozens of volunteers each month. My hope is that in this season we will stop once in a while and thank each other; as volunteers, staff, donors, and shoppers, for the work that we are all involved in here.
So thanks, and keep up the good work!
Joe Connell
ReStore Director
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As you all know the ReStore has a very small staff and we rely heavily upon volunteers to make it all possible. We are truly a volunteer driven organization. And so of course we always need more volunteers.
Please consider supporting the work of Habitat by volunteering at the ReStore!
Our present needs include:
- Driver Assistants - our Driver Assistants go out with the truck to help navigate, load and unload, and help the driver backup. You don't need special skills, just a willingness to help and a strong back.
- Backup Drivers - most of our drivers are on a regular shift but of course everyone gets sick, goes on vacation, or just needs a break now and then. So we need folks that can fill in at those times. Drivers must be able to drive a large box truck and have a clean driving record, and also must have a strong back.
We also always need help out in the store from individuals or groups. Let us know if your workplace, church or school has programs for volunteering that we could invite to join us!
Visit our website to learn more about volunteering at the ReStore.
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Please Contribute to
the Willamette Week's 4th Annual GIVE! Guide.
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For the past four years, Willamette Week, Portland's pop culture weekly newspaper, has encouraged its readers to show their holiday spirit by donating to suggested local non profits. In 2006, 1400 generous people gave more than $220,000 through the paper's Give! Guide Website, and another $3,800 in checks. Habitat for Humanity received the largest amount, $24,321.96 (including matching grants). This year the paper is recommending 49 groups that "do Portland all manner of good." We hope that, in 2007, even more will be raised for all these important causes in need. The Give! Guide Website will be able to accept donations beginning Wednesday, November 14th.
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M e e t T e s s
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| The ReStore is happy to welcome Tess Berube, our new Warehouse Assistant. For Tess, working at the ReStore marks a challenging change of direction in her life. Previously she worked at several local coffee shops as a barrista. Ready for something new, Tess was taking some time off to consider her options when she ran into Joe Connell, ReStore Director and a customer at her last job. They got to talking, and the windup was she had a new job in a whole new field.
Tess moved to Portland about five years ago from eastern Long Island, New York. She was drawn to this area's more affordable lifestyle, including the possibility of managing without a car. Her family is scattered all over the country. Her mother lives in Idaho, her father in Florida, and her married brother is back in Connecticut (where Tess was born). She also has a younger brother who is thinking of joining her in the Pacific Northwest.
As Warehouse Assistant, Tess's job includes accepting, receiving, putting away, and organizing new donations, as well as working with our constantly changing roster of volunteers and helping other staff. She is also learning to drive a forklift.
In her spare time, Tess enjoys cooking and baking. She especially likes to create soups, muffins, and cookies that not only taste good, but also offer some health benefit and/or emotional comfort.
Be sure to say hi to Tess the next time you're at the ReStore! .
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Portland's 21st Annual Fix-It Fair Season Begins This Month!
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 The City's Office of Sustainable Development will sponsor three of these valuable, free events over the next few months:
November 17, 2007
Self Enhancement Inc.
3920 North Kerby Ave.
January 12, 2008
Lent School
5105 SE 97th Ave.
More accessible for Spanish speakers
February 2, 2008
Roosevelt High School
6941 North Central Ave.
More accessible for Spanish speakers
All take place from 8:30am until 2:00pm, provide free, professional childcare and a free lunch, and offer lots of money-saving, cost-effective tips, free giveaways, and hourly door prizes. City, county, and community exhibitors provide information, hands-on demonstrations, over a dozen different 45-minute long workshops on such subjects as:
ˇHousing and Finances
ˇHome Health and Safety
ˇYard and Garden Care
ˇResource Conservation
ˇHealth and Nutrition
The Portland ReStore will be there. Be sure to come by our table and and say Hi. We will have a Powerpoint showing what we do, as well as info on volunteer opportunities, and other Habitat projects.
For more information, check out the Fix-It Fair's own website at Fix-It Fair |
The Appliance Dilemma
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Every year millions of new refrigerators, dishwashers, cooking ranges, washers, and dryers are sold in the United States. That means that close to that number of older models are removed. What happens to these discarded appliances? Is there a way to recycle them? All over the country, Habitat for Humanity ReStores are answering that question in different ways.
The Madison, Wisconsin, ReStore does not take any appliances. At the other extreme, the ReStores in Austin, Texas; Statesboro, Georgia; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota take any age appliance, as long as it is "fully functioning." However, Sioux Falls does not take dishwashers.
Here at the Portland ReStore, we take appliances that are 5 years old or newer, as those are the units most in demand. We don't have space to sit with older, slower-moving models for months and months--something we learned the hard way over time. We do pick up appliances if donors are not able to drop them off.
What about all those appliances that are 6 years and older? Because we are committed to Reusing and Recycling, we encourage callers to contact local non-profits or businesses that take the older models.
The Union Gospel Mission's Thrift Store (11611 SW Pacific Hwy., 503-639-6488) carries up to 8-year-old appliances. No dishwashers.
FindersKeepers of Veterans Charity Inc. (503-760-1676) takes electric, working appliances that are up to 15 years old. No dishwashers.
Oregon Food Bank (503-282-0555ext231) can sometimes use older, working refrigerators.
Spencer's Used Appliances (7115 NE Glisan St., 503-254-7977) takes any age appliance, working or not. Those they can't sell, they recycle to metal scrappers.
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November 2007
