Habitat for Humanity seeking space to open ReStore

February 18, 2008|By DAN DEARTH

HAGERSTOWN Habitat for Humanity of Washington County is seeking warehouse space in Hagerstown to open a ReStore, a facility that would sell home-improvement items at a discount.

Kathy Powderly, Habitat's director of development, said as a small, nonprofit organization, Habitat for Humanity cannot afford to lease the building at the market rate, but owners of vacant warehouse space could get a tax break by leasing a building to the organization.

ReStores are facilities in which bargain hunters and people who cannot afford home-improvement items can get discounts at 50 percent to 75 percent below retail prices, Powderly said. Customers can buy everything from household appliances to furniture.

ReStores accept materials, such as lumber and bricks, that are left over from construction sites, she said. The items are then resold to fund Habitat for Humanity's operating costs.

Powderly said the warehouse that Habitat is looking for ideally would be 12,000 to 18,000 square feet. The property would need to include a parking lot as well, she said.

A ReStore recently opened in Frederick, Md., Powderly said. The one in Hagerstown would be the first of its kind in Washington County.

"ReStore in other areas have been fortunate enough to receive donated buildings," she said. "Ideally, our location would be either donated or heavily discounted, which would help offset our start-up costs and allow proceeds to go straight into building or renovating Habitat homes."

If everything goes as planned, a Hagerstown ReStore would open this spring, Powderly said.

To learn more about donating or leasing warehouse space to Habitat for Humanity of Washington County, call Kathy Powderly at 301-791-9009, ext. 12, or e-mail her at kathy.hfhwc@verizon.net.

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