Jan Mitchell and Jean Reed love to volunteer at the ReStore

Name: Jan Mitchell

Hometown: Buena Vista, CO - lived in Alaska for 20 years before coming to BV 2 years ago 

Career Background: Retired Physical Therapist, pediatrics; retired MSW, LCSW (licensed clinical social worker) children's therapist. I have volunteered all my life, starting with Brownie level Girl Scouts - this is the first time I have volunteered that did not involve children.

Your work/job with Habitat: I work regularly 1 1/2 to 2 days a week at ReStore and also have been an Application Counselor for people wanting to apply for a Habitat home.  I have also written up a proposal to work with other agencies in this county that have populations that could benefit from the training modules that Habitat uses for those selected for a Habitat home.  I worked on this year's build site alongside the two women chosen for a Habitat home.

Your inspiration or reason for helping others: Helping others is a gift to yourself - it takes your mind off of yourself, and it is truly more blessed to give than to receive.

Favorite Experience: ReStore is just plain fun if you love people and love recycling and recycled items - the variety of both customers and merchandise seems limitless.  The cause of Habitat is beyond basic affordable housing - a hand up, not a handout, which fits my social worker mindset.  My favorite experience so far is working with one of the chosen Habitat homeowners to get in required sweat equity hours, which are mind-boggling given her other responsibilities to a full-time job, 2 kids, and all the activities that entails.
 

Favorite Hobby: I have more hobbies than I can count, but art using repurposed objects is probably at the top of the list - I just finished a project using items from ReStore.

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Name: Jean Reed

Hometown: Born in Denver, lived in the mountains 1/2 of my life

Career: Retired from USWEST/QWEST, Staff/Project Manager, IT Liaison

Background: I lived in the mountains for a good part of my life.  Getting a job used to be entirely different than in the city.  I would hear someone was hiring, I raised my hand and usually got the job.  I've done about everything there is to do in a resort, except own one (waitress, cook, dishwasher, bar tender, maid, bookkeeper).  I was a ski instructor, Buddy Werner Racing coach, police dispatcher, Tupperware lady, skating rink manager, grocery checker, newspaper typesetter and column writer, and substitute teacher. I was a Sunday School teacher and Lay Speaker.  The most important job I ever had was being a mother. That was the first 20 years of my working life!

I moved back to Denver and had basically 6 different careers in the next 20+ years with the phone company, USWest and subsequently Qwest.  We retired and moved to Buena Vista 6 years ago.  We love the small town atmosphere and incredible scenery - every day I thank God for letting us live in paradise. 

Your work/job with Habitat: I volunteer 2 mornings each week and fill in when needed.  I also manage the spreadsheet for our In-Kind Donation forms.  I volunteered for Women's Day Build at our jobsites the past two years.

Your inspiration for helping others: I've always felt the reason we are here is to learn as much as we can and to help others.  My husband and I wanted to "give back" by volunteering and happened upon ReStore about a year ago.  We are so impressed with the mission and execution of the Habitat for Humanity process and so instead of retiring we are knee deep in the Habitat journey and loving it! 

Favorite experience: My favorite Habitat experience was at the dedication of last year's homes (duplex) when the son of one of the new owners ran around to anyone who would listen saying, "I'm getting my own room!  I'm getting my own room!  I'm getting my own room!"  He took someone up to see his room and declared, "See that tree over there?  That's where I'm going to put the zip line!"  His mother verified he really did say that! 

Favorite hobby: Jewelry design, rock hounding, knitting, painting (glass, oil, acrylic, watercolor) and genealogy.  I find materials for my projects at where else - ReStore! 

Next time you see Jan and Jean helping out at the ReStore, please be sure to thank them for all her hard work!

Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity ReStore not only wants to be the first place you shop, but also the first place you volunteer. We could not survive without our volunteers. 

We are looking for cashiers, sales people, organizers, sorters and decorators. We also need muscle to assist our customers with loading and unloading their items. 

We might be located in Buena Vista but we serve all of Chaffee

County, including Salida and Poncha Springs. Our current home is being

built in Salida near the golf course.

Our ReStore is located on CR319, 1/4 mile north of Buena Vista, just west of the airport and east of Ark Valley Humane Society. We have new management and all of the volunteers are working hard to make ReStore the first place you think of when shopping for your home, farm, garden and all of your special projects.

All of our proceeds go directly to build affordable housing. If you have 4 hours to spare, Tuesday-Saturday, and would like to support our mission, please call us at 719-395-0482, option 1 or come in and fill out a volunteer form. We would love to have you join our Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity ReStore team.

Drywall installation is 50% complete with taping just beginning. We are nearing the finish carpentry stage and NEED volunteers to hang doors, install case and base, flooring and cabinets.

We would appreciate any time that you can give at the house. (Tues-Sat,8:00am-4:00pm)
 
Come on down and volunteer!  You could be the winner of the famous "Golden Drywall Knife"! 

In honor of a wonderful, personable volunteer who worked weekly   

Susan Joyce Lee passed away on July 31, 2014. Susan was born on April17, 1945 in Topeka, Kan. to Millard and Cleda Coggin.

She lived most of her childhood in Texas. Susan met and married her husband Larry on March 3, 1962, in Breckenridge, Texas.

They continued to make Texas their home until job opportunities at The Climax Mine brought them to Buena Vista in 1967. They raised their five children in Buena Vista.

Together, Susan and Larry worked through mine shut downs and hard times. They raised their children to have a strong work ethic by working two or more jobs just to make ends meet.

It seemed like everyone knew Susan. "Susie" was a familiar face and easily recognized from her employment at The Vista Market, Delaney's Depot, and City Market.

She knew everyone and never forgot their name or their story. Susan appreciated being retired.

She enjoyed playing cards and doing puzzle books. Her favorite pastimes were watching old western movies and cheering for the Denver Broncos. Most of all she loved spending time with her family.

Online condolences may be made at RunyanMortuary.com.