News from the Portland ReStore's Director
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As anyone that has been in the store recently can see, the ReStore is chock full of great items right now. The end of the year donations from business was especially terrific; so thank you to all the businesses that brought us these wonderful treasures this past month.
Businesses have become a much bigger part of our donor base over the last year. By and large these products are all new materials that would be destined for the landfill but for our work. Part of the fun here is that finding a new home for all these materials represents not just a savings on the landfill side but also a savings on the resource side as well. The raw materials that go into new products that are thrown away represent a huge waste of energy and natural resources. The pipeline for distribution is mostly a one way street. While much is being done within the sustainability community to look at the way companies manufacture their product, as well as handle packaging and end of life use, there is still little talk about the disposal of new product.
We are hoping in the next year to connect with many more businesses to offer this opportunity to them. It will be one of our top priorities this year. One of the key ways we hope to accomplish this will be through a new web site, targeting our marketing, and finding better ways to thank our donors. Another will be to begin a dialogue with area companies and government agencies to explore innovative ways to encourage businesses to reduce this type of waste.
We do so much already, and have so many partners to thank for it. Our hope for this new year is that a year from now we will double our business donors, and double our efforts at thanking them.
So onward to another great year at the ReStore.
Joe Connell
ReStore Director
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The ReStore needs Phone Assistants! Please help inquiring minds and keep the generosity of the donors' task convenient and the motivations of volunteers alive. If you can help on a flexible 9am-2pm, Wednesday or Friday shift, this would be most helpful.
Customer Service help needed Tuesday anytime (9am-5pm), Wednesday afternoon (2-5pm), and Saturday anytime (9am-5pm). Meet a variety of people from the community as you work with ReStore employees in assisting customers and donators as they come in and leave the store. This is a really fun job for the right people person who likes to multi-task.
ReStore always needs help in the Warehouse and on our Donations Truck. Shifts start at 9am and go until about 3pm. Work with others in the community for a common cause regularly, sporadically, or just once, everything helps.
Visit our website to learn more about volunteering at the ReStore. |
Green Building Hotline Launched
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Portland's Office of Sustainable Development recently partnered with Metro, Clackamas, Washington, and Multnomah Counties to start a Green Building Hotline.
503-823-5431
When you call this number, you will be able to receive information about:
Green Materials
Strategies for Reducing a Project's Carbon Footprint
Financial Incentives
Renewable Energy
Indoor Air Quality
Sustainable Site Development
Construction Material Recycling
Stormwater Management
Hotline staff welcome calls from homeowners, realtors, non-profit groups, government agencies, contractors, students, developers, business owners, design professionals, and anyone else concerned about green building issues. The idea is to inspire callers to utilize as many sustainable elements into their projects as possible. The Hotline can also help by offering advise for overcoming barriers and obstacles to green building practices.
The Hotline will operate during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, PST. Callers can leave a message anytime, and receive a call-back or email message. For more information, plus useful links, and to access the Hotline's email, visit the Website of the Green Development Resource Center.
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Meet Ben, a volunteer who loves his "job"!
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"I look forward to coming in every week," says an enthusiastic Ben Powell, our Thursday cashier. "It's a ball! All the people I meet: Habitat families putting in their hours, other volunteers, customers, and staff. I've made some good friendships. And I always get excited when our truck pulls in (from picking up donated items). Everyone runs to see what's inside, what treasures are coming in today."
Ben was born and raised in St. Helens, about a half-hour north of Portland. Ben was #2 in his family lineup, with three brothers and two sisters. He and his wife, a nurse at OHSU, still live there. He is the proud father of four daughters. An interesting element in his family background (accordng to Ben's mother) is that his maternal great grandfather, last name Rose, came to Oregon in a covered wagon, settling in a community that was later named after his family--Roseburg.
Hunting and fishing are two of Ben's favorite pastimes. He spends a lot of time on the Lower Columbia, as well as on local streams. Among his most memorable catches was a 23 1/2 lb, 37 1/2 inch steelhead trout. He's also caught several 40 lb. salmon.
Bem has been volunteering at the ReStore since March, starting his weekly routine shortly after seeing a notice in the Oregonian. Already he is very much a member of the ReStore Family. "My mom used to tell me that if everyone did just one thing to help, the world would be a better place. It feels good to know I'm helping." |
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Portland's 21st Annual Fix-It Fair Season Continues
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 The City's Office of Sustainable Development will sponsor two more of these valuable, free events over the next few months:
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
Both will 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 |
| Green Investment Fund Applications Due by February 4. |
 The City of Portland's Green Investment Fund is looking for innovative, green building projects to support. The Office of Sustainable Development is accepting applications for the next round of funding via a competitive grant process. The deadline is February 4th. A total of $425,000 will be available. Industrial, multi-family residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects are eligible. For more information, as well as to download the application, visit the Green Investment Fund Website. |
 
Duane Flatmo Rene Hinds
Calling All Artists ! ! !
We are thinking of organizing an exhibit of Art made from Found Objects and Recycled Materials. We invite artists who would be interested in participating, as well as others who know such artists to Please Contact Us at robin@pdxrestore.org.
Leo Sewell
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Please Give Us Feedback!
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Please let us know what you think of the ReStore Newsletter. Are you finding useful information and/or resources? Do you have ideas for articles you would like us to do? Are there aspects of the newsletter that you think need improvement. Please help us make this newsletter better. Contact robin@pdxrestore.org with your thoughts. Thank you!
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January 2008
