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The ReStore is still looking for a little help in the office doing data entry and answering phones. These positions help the flow of the ReStore by assisting with information to our donors and volunteers. If you enjoy sharing information and problem solving with others, try being a phone assistant. If you lean towards more organized and quiet work, try data entry. If you need variety, combine the two!
Truck Drivers and Assistants! We need to fill two days with dependable people for the donation pick-up routes on Tuesday and Friday. Partner up with a friend and enjoy a morning each week in a different way. The routes and donations always vary so it never gets old. Drivers need experience with large trucks, but CDL is not required.
The ReStore has several key volunteer positions available, and we are looking for the right, dedicated people to fill them.
Take Care,
Molly Enright - Volunteer Coordinator |
| Message from the ReStore Director |
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As many of you know our former ReStore Manager left our store back in July. Since then I have been working double duty; as both Director and Manager. Its been great fun to be back in the store day to day, I have enjoyed every minute; but it is time for us to re-hire for this position. So we are starting our search this week.
The ReStore is a unique place; it is a combination of non-profit fundraising, retail sales, and a re-use center for lots of amazing stuff that varies every day. There is never a dull moment. It can be fun, wonderfully rewarding, and very challenging.
A ReStore Manager must be willing to engage the public daily; as a salesperson, a public face and voice of Habitat for Humanity, and a leader of both staff and volunteers. At times the pace is fast and the flow of traffic non-stop, at other times there are wonderful moments to chat with a shopper or volunteer or a Habitat family. The Manager must be able to work with this fluctuation and guide our team through it all. It takes patience, leadership, and a good deal of organization.
If you think that you, or someone you know, has the right combination of skills, interests, and loves a great challenge, please contact me at jconnell@pdxrestore.org.
Joe Connell
Portland Metro ReStore Director
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Meet Carrie Christian (&Daniel),
Habitat Homeowner
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| Carrie and her teenage son Daniel moved into their Habitat home last October. The immaculate two-bedroom house is in the New Columbia section of North Portland. "I love the house so much," she says with enthusiasm. "And we have good Habitat neighbors too."
Carrie and Daniel's house was one of six built on the same block. Three were put up as part of the 2007 Summer Blitz. Their house was constructed by an all-women crew.
Carrie and Daniel put in many more than the 500 "sweat equity" hours required of selected homeowners, so excited were they at the prospect of getting a new home. Even her sisters helped. One came out from Wisconsin, where Carrie is from originally, to work for a weekend. Her other sister, locally based, contributed her Fridays for three months.
The Christians moved to Portland in 2004, after living in Canada for 15
years. Daniel had never lived in the U.S. Before moving into their
Habitat home, they lived in a small one bedroom apartment in
Southeast Portland. Carrie's bed was in the living room. "I was
getting tired of that," she remembers.
A
commercial painter by profession, Carrie painted the entire interior of
her new home, and helped with the outside as well. "I wasn't that good
with measuring," she admits, "so I did caulking and cleaning. It was
great."
Carrie and her son, now 17, also spent time working at the ReStore before construction began. They are both remembered with affection by the ReStore staff. The dining room table and chairs in the Christians' new home came from the ReStore, as did the wood the talented new homeowner used to build herself a drafting table and other wood furniture. She also paints landscapes and images of historic buildings.
Carrie spoke at a HFH volunteer recruiting meeting, and she would like to
do more volunteering herself. However, these days she has little time as her
job painting and doing touch-up in one of the South Waterfront high-rises has her working
six days a week.
All of us at the ReStore wish both Carrie and Daniel continued success and happiness in their Habitat home. They're always welcome at the ReStore.
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Vancouver's C.R.E.A.M.
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| Jail inmates and students are the core of a highly successful program in Clark County, Washington, that refurbishes computers when possible, or else recycles them, as well as many other types of electronic equipment. C.R.E.A.M. (Computer Re-use and Marketing) began in 2003 with just one worker from the Jail Work Center. The program has grown to currently involve 13 inmates. "Every year it gets a little better," explains Dean Muth, Jail Industries Coordinator. "It took awhile for the word to get out about us." The program is a collaboration between Clark County, the City of Vancouver, Clark College, and Philips Services Corporation.
Since 2003 more than 17,000 computers, 19,000 monitors, 10,000 printers, 12,000 TVs, and 17,000 other electronic machines have been collected. The main dropoff location is at the Jail Work Center in northwest Vancouver. Once a month, Philips Services Corporation in Washougal, Washington, also accepts "techno-trash." In addition, 22 recycling events are held each year all over the county.
In 2007 C.R.E.A.M. made $147,000 from selling scrap metal, hard drives, etc. to Portland-based City Recycle, double the income from the year before. 77 computers got a new lease on life, programmed with Windows 2000 by Clark College students, and then turned over to the Salvation Army for distribution.
C.R.E.A.M. does not sell or send any materials to Asia, even though representatives from China regularly visit the program, soliciting business. This is due to concerns about the safe and environmentally responsible handling of the materials. As a result, instead of getting paid for CRTs (screens), C.R.E.A.M. pays $10 a tube to send them to a smelter in Pennsylvania.
As the ReStore moves toward opening a new store in Vancouver, we look forward to partnering with C.R.E.A.M. as much as possible. For more information on C.R.E.A.M., please visit its Website. |
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Did You Know . . . you can help lower carbon emissions? |
We are hearing a lot about carbon emissions being the major contributor to global climate change. In the news, the focus is appropriately on how to get large manufacturers, transportation companies, and other corporate entities to lower their emissions. However, we all have a role to play, since all of our actions have an impact.
Here are some ways each of us can become more a part of the solution.
1. Whenever possible, buy locally produced food, and other products too. That cuts down on transportation costs, both financial and environmental.
2. When choosing a product, try to select one with less wasteful packaging, or with packaging that can be recycled. Also look for products that are manufactured using sustainable practices and recycled content.
3. Repair things before thinking of replacing them. Buy used whenever possible.
4. Share tools and yard equipment with friends and neighbors. Not everyone needs to have their own.
5. Be energy efficient at home:
Unplug chargers etc from wall outlets when not in use.
Turn off the light when leave a room.
Keep doors to unused rooms closed.
Choose Energy Star appliances. Recycle older models.
Regularly clean all cooling and heating appliances
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Recycled Door Paint-off
Aided by the ReStore
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On June 28th, a diverse group of about 50 local artists found a great new Re-use for some of the ReStore's old hollow core doors. Organized by Portland City Art, Inc. and Portland Mural Defense, the all-day event turned the block outside Olympic Mill Commerce Center at 2nd and Washington into a giant live studio.
   
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Upcoming Events
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Sept 2 Free Admission at the Japanese Garden
611 SW Kingston Avenue, Portland
Open 10am-7pm
To learn more about this beautiful city treasure, visit the Website.
Sept 5-7 3rd Annual Muddy Boot Organic Festival
St. Philip Neri Church, 2408 SE 16th Ave, Portland
The festival's purpose is to promote sustainable living practices locally.
Sept 5, 7pm ($15) keynote speaker Dr. Wes Jackson, author and founder of The
Land Institute, leader in sustainable agriculture movement.
Sept 6, 12-9pm ($5, 12 and under free): vendor booths, live music, workshops,
and children's activities.
Sept 7, 12-6pm ($5): same as previous day.
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RESTORE HOURS
Tuesday through Saturday
9am-5pm |
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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August 2008
