Habitat for Humanity ReStore reaches out to Opelika
Photo by Robert Noles
Habitat for Humanity ReStore manager Drew Riley and employees are looking for innovative ways to share what they offer with Opelika. The ReStore is a nonprofit profit home improvement and donation center.
By Anna-Claire Terry
Staff Writer
Habitat for Humanity ReStore of Opelika is reaching out to the community in innovative and creative ways. Habitat has turned to social media outlets like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter to help show Opelika what ReStore has to offer.
“I just really want to show who we are and what we do,” said Drew Riley, manager.
According to Riley, employees have been taking creative photos and finding new ways to share information about the store through social media.
Habitat ReStore is a nonprofit home improvement and donation center. The purpose of the store is to sell new and gently-used home items to the public for a fraction of the retail price. Habitat for Humanity ReStores are owned and operated by local Habitat for Humanity affiliates and operate primarily on donations from local residents and larger corporations.
Riley said the Opelika Habitat ReStore operates with four employees and an Operations Manager.
“We like to be pretty hands-on when it comes to volunteer groups and customers,” Riley said. “If anyone comes in and has a question about something, I will run around and take them all the way around the store, and we will look everywhere to see of we can find what they’re looking for.”
A wide variety of merchandise is offered including appliances, hardware, building supplies, furniture and household trinkets. The ReStore is open to people form all walks of life, and volunteers and donations are always welcome. Riley added that all proceeds from Habitat for Humanity ReStores go to support Habitat for Humanity statewide.
“We try to be donor-centric because we couldn’t do any of this without our donors,” he said. “They could easily sell this stuff online for a lot more.”
Brandon Dixon, operations manager, explained that Habitat ReStores are a type of support organization for the Habitat for Humanity affiliates.
“We are basically separate but equal organizations,” Dixon said.
Dixon said that one of the best things about ReStore is for every dollar that is made in the store, a pound and a half of material is diverted from landfills. Last year, Habitat ReStore diverted 500,000 pounds of material.
According to Dixon and Riley, the biggest need of Habitat for Humanity ReStore is donations and volunteers. “The more goods and funds our ReStore gets, the better we can support out affiliates,” Dixon said.
Dixon commended Riley’s work with social media and said Riley has been an asset, bringing passion and energy to the ReStore and its customers and donors.
“The day is just not long enough. It’s so much fun. I’ve never had a job with a mission like this,” Riley said.