Commitment to Service Deserves Celebration

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By Kristen Keefer

Through a combined effort led by ReStore Volunteer Coordinator Carrie Burgin, the annual ReStore Volunteer Appreciation Party was a huge success! On Tuesday, September 20th, more than 150 attendees gathered at Highland Brewing Company in their new event space and savored a beautiful spread of food prepared lovingly by Events Committee chair Alice Donnelly. Volunteers, staff, and their guests also enjoyed live music performed by Hank Bones while sharing in the company of one another throughout the evening.

ReStore Manager Scott Stetson, began the program with a warm welcome while sharing his appreciation for how largely volunteer efforts contribute to a thriving ReStore; efforts that ultimately contribute to the Habitat’s ability to create affordable housing. Future homeowner Heidi Chapman and her two sons took the stage next, expressing excitement and gratitude. Executive Director Andy Barnett followed, interweaving volunteer contributions to the global impact of Habitat’s tithing program. For every home built in Buncombe County, Asheville Habitat tithes to affiliates in Guatemala, Malawi, Haiti, Bangladesh, or Egypt. This incredible tithe program is made possible through many efforts, including our volunteers’ unwavering commitment to service at Habitat.

Next came awards for length of service. Katie Caron, Diane McLean, Dan Shackelford, Arnold Willen, and Marci Windham were all recognized for volunteering for 5 years at the ReStore. Anne Connelly, Bruce Emory, Daphne Fox, Jim Goodson, Sherry Griffith, Connie Koiner, Laura Lowe, Jane Parmley, Betty Jo Readling, Ron Schmid, and Trina Summers were recognized for 10 years of volunteer service. Phil Casey, Bill Crownover, and Alan Williams were recognized for 15 years of service. Additional awards went to Helen Andrews and Bruce Tettemer. And, Shirley Studwell was presented with a special award for sharing her time and talent with Asheville Area Habitat for 25 years!

Thank you volunteers, new and long-standing, for all of your efforts! Day after day your talent, effort, and spirit make the ReStore a special place to be. Without your dedication, operating the Restore, and building homes both locally and globally would not be possible. Your joyful participation at the ReStore and your commitment to Habitat’s mission truly does make a world of a difference!

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Hardware Heroes

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By Kristen Keefer

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, contractor, or simply an avid thrift shopper, then you recognize the value of well-preserved secondhand tools. Every week the ReStore receives a mixture of hardware donations, from power tools like drills and table saws, to screwdrivers and hammers. Many of these items are quickly re-homed once reaching the sales floor, which results in funding towards Habitat’s mission and affordable tools for consumers in Asheville.

This smooth transition couldn’t take place without the helping hands of Richard Pollard, Harvey Sexton, and John Harvin (pictured above, L to R), the hardware crew behind the scenes. All three men were acquainted with Habitat long before retirement. Once retired, each sought a meaningful way to spend their time, which led them to volunteering at the ReStore. With all three having experience with tools, working in hardware was a natural fit.

Harvey and Richard explained how much of their personal experience using tools has given them an eye for hardware items at the ReStore. In fact, the two men often collaborate on pricing and identifying items. Richard said, “I’ll look at stuff he prices and we’re spot on with the same pricing. Unless you use a tool, you don’t know how valuable it is.” The value Richard speaks of isn’t solely monetary either. Having the right tool for a job can be the determining factor in whether or not a person can complete a project themselves. Access to affordable tools empowers individuals to be able to take on projects, develop skills, and improve their homes.

Not only are the guys helping shoppers access affordable tools, but they also identify unique or antique tools for inclusion in the ReStore Silent Auction. John explained, “Sometimes I feel like an archaeologist digging into the past. It’s fun! What you find is a surprise!” He has discovered everything from run-of-the-mill tools to rare antiques. Being able to deliver a good value to the consumer is important to him, as is helping raise funds for Habitat’s mission through the ReStore.

John especially appreciates Habitat’s model to create affordable housing because it actively involves future homeowners in the process. Harvey also demonstrated an appreciation for the families that complete their sweat equity at the ReStore and remarked, “It is so pleasant to work with partner families and get to know them.”

The sentiment Harvey shared seems to resonate with all three of the men. Whether speaking with Richard, Harvey, or John, you’ll find what they enjoy most about volunteering are the people that fill the ReStore. The staff, volunteers, and partner families that they work alongside weekly are what keep them coming back. These three gentlemen volunteer their time, knowledge, and skills to the ReStore. In return, they receive a rewarding experience filled with valuable company and friendships. We are grateful to have them on board and appreciate their devotion to helping keep quality affordable hardware at the ReStore!

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ReStore Volunteer Adds Another Role to His Resume

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By Kristen Keefer

Retired pastor Jamie Dale has been an admirer of Habitat for Humanity’s mission since he first became acquainted with the organization in 1978. So naturally when he began volunteering at the Asheville Habitat ReStore in November of 2014, he was a great fit. He currently volunteers twice a week in the ReStore’s Small Appliances department, and he serves on Asheville Area Habitat’s Events Committee.

Working in Small Appliances allows him to fix items that may have otherwise been tossed into a landfill. This component of his work is very important to him. Appreciative of Habitat’s dedication to waste diversion, Dale noted “The ReStore does a really good job of refurbishing items and keeping them out of the landfill. The fact that it translates into housing is even better!” But what Jamie says he enjoys most about being a ReStore volunteer is, “You get to meet some fun people and the atmosphere is generally positive. People seem to really enjoy working here.”

In addition to volunteering with Habitat, Jamie has recently taken on another role. For nearly two months, he has been staying an hour after his ReStore volunteer shift to register voters. The seed that sprouted this idea however, had been planted nearly a year prior, after he attended a conference addressing voter issues. Jamie felt compelled to respond and get involved. At the time, he was unsure where to begin; but recently, an opportunity presented itself.

Annie Butzner, a volunteer for the NAACP, had already begun registering voters at the ReStore when Jamie offered a helping hand. Inside the ReStore, in the Upper Showroom, is Annie’s table of voter pamphlets and registration forms. On Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, this table is occupied by Jamie. His approach to registering voters is straightforward, honest, and confident. He explains, “Actively ask people if they are registered, don’t just wait on them to notice you or the sign.” As the list of voters Jamie has registered continues to grow, his go-getter approach is proving to be effective. And, to Jamie’s pleasant surprise, around 95% of the people he has approached are already registered voters. Jamie’s message to those that are still unregistered voters…register! He acknowledges that becoming an informed voter is an involved process, but advocates the importance of embracing this process. For Jamie, a citizen’s vote is their local and global voice.

Jamie’s passion for registering voters, giving usable items a second lease on life, and helping Habitat plan and execute events, is inspirational. He leads by example and demonstrates the power of taking action when you are passionate about a cause. Thank you Jamie, for the eclectic mixture of volunteer roles you embrace, both with Habitat for Humanity and in the greater community. We appreciate you!

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Jim Dugas: Sewing Machine Expert and Man of Service   

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By Kristen Keefer

If you take a stroll through the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore, whether through the sales floor or behind the scenes, you’ll promptly notice a strong crew of smiling faces performing a variety of different functions. Everyone’s role contributes uniquely to Habitat’s mission. This is one of the aspects that makes volunteering at the ReStore so special. Each volunteer is empowered by the ability to seek a unique niche that they excel at and enjoy.

Karen and Jim DugasJim Dugas (pictured above, center and here with his wife, Karen) was once a professional woodworker. He found his volunteer niche in sewing machine repair. Jim volunteered at the ReStore for almost 5 years, until his recent and unexpected passing. When he began volunteering, he repaired furniture; but his interest ultimately shifted to sewing machines. Mastering the art of sewing machine repair came to him quickly. His good friend and fellow volunteer, Walt Tolley (pictured, above right), elaborated on his abilities saying “Jim loved the idea of returning a broken thing back to normal.” He testified that Jim’s work was completed to perfection and that he very much preferred finishing a task without any help. When Jim took on a project, he did so wholeheartedly!

Jim and Walt sprouted a strong friendship over similar interests and a shared workspace. And it was a friendship that extended beyond the walls of the ReStore Habitat. Walt, who has now been volunteering with Asheville Area Habitat for nine years, helps build homes with the Interfaith community and also works in the ReStore small appliance repair area, where the two friends became acquainted.

Jim worked alongside other volunteers, as well. He shared his extensive knowledge of sewing machine repair recently with Kayren McKnight (pictured, above left), who began volunteering at the ReStore in April 2016. Kayren, a costume seamstress for both The Magnetic Theatre and Montford Players Club, established an interest in sewing machine repair after developing an appreciation for the reliability of older machines. Though she came to Habitat with a sturdy foundation in sewing machine repair, she had yet to understand the wiring of these antique devices.

Jim embraced the opportunity to help Kayren develop this skill. Kayren explained about these older models, “This was early on in the patenting of sewing machines, so every model that was not made by Singer had to be constructed differently.” This action was necessary in order for other manufacturers to avoid patent infringement. Therefore, there are often differences in the mechanics of each antique machine that is donated to the ReStore; and learning to fix one doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to fix the next one.

Kayren recalled, “Jim researched every machine and repaired each one meticulously.” She shared that Jim had developed an inspection report form that he completed for each machine he worked on. In addition to this, he took photos of all the machines during the repair process. These photos acted as a guide for putting the machines back together. Kayren says she enjoyed working with someone that was so fascinated by the machines!

Kayren is certain that the level of detail Jim applied to repairing sewing machines was a reflection of his desire to produce the best work he could for Habitat. Jim’s story teaches us that service is multi-faceted. Service is not simply about performing a task, but instead about learning and sharing. It is about joining with others for a collective purpose larger than oneself. It is about making an impact and leaving an imprint. If you ever have the pleasure of chatting with Jim’s friends at the ReStore, you will certainly discover that he was a dear friend and mentor, and truly a man of service.

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2016 ReStore ReUse Contest

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For the fifth consecutive year, the Asheville Habitat ReStore is encouraging residents to show off their creativity and talent for a chance to win the ReStore ReUse Contest. Garden shed, artist studio, chicken coop…tree house, dog house, playhouse…if you recently built a structure like this using predominantly reused building materials, Habitat wants to know! The contest runs July 1-August 31 and submissions must be sent electronically. Click here for entry form.

The purpose of the contest is to showcase innovative building projects constructed predominantly of used building materials. “Our customers often tell us about the projects they make using materials purchased at the ReStore. This contest is a great way to showcase their projects and inspire others to reuse, recycle and repurpose usable building materials and supplies,” said Scott Stetson, ReStore General Manager.

Five judges will select winners in the following categories: Furniture, Homesteading, Live/Work Space, and Best in Show. The public will be encouraged to vote for their favorite entry (People’s Choice Award) in the ReStore and on-line starting in early September. Details will be announced later this summer.

To see all photos from last year’s contest, please click here.

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Celebrating Those Who Share Their Time and Talent

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Volunteers support Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity staff and homeowner families in every aspect of their work. Last year, 2,000 volunteers contributed more than 60,000 hours of service – at a value of more than $1.38 million, according to independentsector.org. Another way to look at it: the hours contributed by volunteers equates to having an additional 28 staff members working 40 hours each week!

Volunteers have been receiving notes, small gifts and special treats through out the week, as well as free lunch. Local SUBWAY® restaurant owners are again saluting approximately 2,000 Habitat for Humanity volunteers by providing boxed lunches at Habitat work sites in Asheville and across the Carolinas.

And there is no better time than this week to mention milestones. Two core volunteers, Joe Kane (ReStore) and Bob Swartz (Construction) have reached the 15 year milestone; Core construction volunteer Bill Kantonen, known as “singing Bill”, is celebrating 20 years as a volunteer with Asheville Area Habitat; and ReStore volunteers Jan Wright and Allen Laws have been volunteering for 25 years! Habitat is grateful for the commitment of these folks, and of all volunteers, whether they have helped once, or they help once a week.

Some fun facts about Habitat volunteers:

  • In 2015, through programs such as Global Village and Collegiate Challenge as well as the signature “Before the Jam, Lend a Hand” volunteer event, Asheville Area Habitat hosted volunteers from 31 different U.S. states!
  • Habitat utilizes about 135 volunteers in the ReStore each week.
  • It takes 1,650 hours of volunteer labor to build one Habitat house.
  • Core construction volunteers (those who volunteer on a weekly or bi-weekly basis) contributed 68% of total construction volunteer hours in 2015!

And if this isn’t enough, hear what our 12 month intern Emily Stevens has to say about Habitat and volunteerism in this short video clip.

Want to get involved? Please click here to learn more about volunteering and how to sign up. Thanks!

 

 

 

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Friendship: Just One Reason to Volunteer

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By Madeline McIntyre

Betty Jo Readling started volunteering at the ReStore in the same way many others start: a friend asked. And we are fortunate enough that Betty Jo said yes. For ten years now, she has been a true leader among the volunteers, assisting in trainings and helping with anything and everything. “I love working that front desk right there, and getting to greet people, and going out on the floor, you know, just whatever anybody needs,” Betty Jo said.

Before her retirement, Betty Jo worked the front desk at Asheville Pediatrics. This experience made her well-equipped to work the ReStore register. We soon realized her talents and recruited her as the Volunteer Manager. “I’ve trained everybody who has worked with me and some others too,” Betty Jo said. Her favorite part of volunteer training is seeing the growth in others. “Just seeing how quickly some people can pick it up or how you have to maybe help some a little bit more,” she said.

And Betty Jo truly loves to help out. She spent some time during her last shift making sure an elderly couple would be able to back into the loading dock and load their purchases into their car. “That’s a big thing – just helping other people. And I get to see all of that,” Betty Jo said.

Her commitment to others makes her a favorite among the volunteers. “I adore her,” a fellow Wednesday volunteer, Debbie Rogers said. “She’s just a wonderful person.” Other volunteers feel the same way, making sure Betty Jo has a ride to Habitat events, helping her celebrate birthdays, and going out for the occasional lunch date. “There are three of us who meet every so often and go out to lunch,” Betty Jo said. “We just have a good time.”

These friendships are simply another part of the many reasons why Betty Jo has continued her service to Habitat for Humanity for so many years. “It is a nice way to make friends,” she said. “And the interaction that we have with customers, with staff, with volunteers. It’s just all good.”

Betty Jo plans on continuing to volunteer with Habitat for as long as she can, showing her dedication to our mission and values. And even though she has seen the ReStore change over the years, from system overhauls to building overhauls, she cannot imagine being anywhere else.
“It is just a great place. I love being here, and I’ll stay as long as I can,” Betty Jo said. “That pretty much sums it up.”

We are grateful to that friend who first asked her to volunteer, and so appreciate of all the volunteer service hours that Betty Jo has provided to Asheville Area Habitat over the past decade. Thank you, Betty Jo!

Photo: Betty Jo is pictured Left with fellow volunteers in 2006 (L) and 2016 (R).

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Committed to Service, No Matter the Task

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By Jonathan Dermid

The Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore is privileged to have a volunteer who embodies the spirit of being a “jack of all trades.” In his time with the ReStore, Ron Shimberg has volunteered in the bookstore, on the sales floor, and in the receiving department loading and unloading trucks.

Now, Ron can usually be found diligently cleaning the parking lots of both the ReStore and the Administrative building, a task that he took upon himself after noticing a tendency for mess.

“I noticed that there was some garbage in the parking lot, so I started cleaning the parking lot on Thursday, and rewarding myself with volunteering in the bookstore on Saturday,” Ron said. “No one asked me to do it, but I like doing it. And it’s important to me to make this place look nice, because the parking lot is one of the first things people are going to see.” He soon realized though, that once a week wasn’t enough for the parking lot and something had to give.

Giving up the bookstore was hard for Ron, as he says that he had a great time volunteering there. “It was hard giving up my bookstore shift, because it was my favorite gig in the ReStore,” Ron said. “But now I can really make an even bigger difference, by cleaning the lots twice a week.”

While in the bookstore, Ron said that he experienced and contributed to a warm and welcoming environment. “When I was in the bookstore, it was a great vibe,” he said. “I would engage the people and I would have them dancing. I even had one volunteer dancing with his dog!”

Ron attributes this partially to his love of music, which led him to create a lively atmosphere in the bookstore (which also sells vinyl albums and CDs) with the records he would play. “I’m a musician. I play blues harmonica and I’ve been in 3 bands around town,” Ron said. “That’s my soul, music. I love it.”

Ron ended up as a ReStore volunteer due to a total fluke, as he had just recently moved to Asheville and took a wrong turn. “I escaped South Florida, and was staying at my sister’s before I got my own place,” he said. “She sent me on a run to AB Tech, and I didn’t know where I was going and ended up going the wrong way and happened to pass by the ReStore. They had a sign that said ‘volunteers wanted,’ so I arranged to volunteer the very next day.”

In Florida, Ron worked with online sales and marketing, selling data and designing web content for Fortune 500 companies and helping to pioneer embedded advertising in email services. Even with the long hours he worked then, he still found time to volunteer in Florida with an organization called Horses for the Handicapped.

Ron has always really liked doing good things for the community, and he knew he wanted to do the same when he came to Asheville in March of 2013, which he considers a huge turning point in his life.

“Everything changed when I moved here,” he said. “I really dug the vibe and the energy of Asheville right off the bat.” Ron says that same atmosphere permeates the entire Habitat for community as well, which made him feel welcome almost immediately.

“I like the relationships I’ve made here, not just with the staff and volunteers but with customers too. I’ve even become friends with some of the customers.”

Ron has always taken a great deal of pride in his volunteer positions, whether it be making the bookstore customers smile and dance, moving merchandise in the receiving area, or keeping the parking lots clean. To Ron, all of these tasks are his way of making a positive difference for what he calls his family.

We’re glad Ron made a wrong turn back in 2013! We are fortunate to have him as part of the Habitat family and appreciate his ongoing commitment to service, no matter the task.

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Deconstruction: Doing the Heavy Lifting to Make Reuse Easier

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By Jonathan Dermid

One of the first things that someone might notice upon entering the Asheville Area Habitat ReStore is the vast amount of building supplies and home furnishings that fill our showroom floors. From small love seats to mammoth cabinet sets, we take pride in our ability to offer such variety to the community at affordable prices.

Ever wonder how we manage to receive something like a full kitchen set or a giant entertainment center? Moving, and in some cases de-installing items like these certainly isn’t easy. That’s where our excellent team of deconstruction staff and volunteers come in. But they might not have the panache of a television deconstruction show, as they instead gently remove everything from kitchen cabinetry to bathroom fixtures, flooring, and more.

Led by long-time Habitat staffer Bryan Ogle, deconstruction and ReStore volunteers work carefully to ensure successful transitions “from home to ReStore to home” and this week was no exception. Brian, along with volunteers Cherin Saxe, Tom Weaver and Cody Bassham worked all day at a home in Biltmore Lake to remove a 15 piece cabinet set (including granite countertops). Now, it is all set up in our lower showroom, available for purchase and waiting for its next home.

The items that come to the showroom floor through the deconstruction program supplement our constant influx of other donations, providing shoppers an even larger array of items to choose from. In addition, our deconstruction service helps reduce the cost of home-improvement for Buncombe County residents while simultaneously funding Habitat’s mission of building and repairing homes in partnership with low-income families. Learn more here.

Thanks to our great volunteers, usable materials that might have otherwise ended up in a landfill, are recycled for someone else’s home; all the while benefiting Asheville Area Habitat’s programs and the families we serve.

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It’s time again for “Before the Jam, Lend a Hand”!

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Saturday, December 12 will mark the 27th Annual Christmas Jam, presented by Warren Haynes. To date, the Christmas Jam has raised more than $1.8m for Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, building houses and neighborhoods for hard-working low income Buncombe County families in need of safe, decent and affordable homes.

As in previous years, Habitat will again host local and out-of-town volunteers for Before the Jam, Lend a Hand. In the days leading up to the benefit concert, fans get involved – in a hands on way – with the cause that the Jam supports. Volunteers help both in the ReStore and on the construction site; on site, the volunteers help on various houses under construction, but some help to prepare the floor system and build the walls that will be raised at the Christmas Jam House wall-raising event on December 11th.

In our ReStore, we had Bryan Prim, Rich Granaas and Shawn Crisholm volunteering all day to make improvements to our well-worn conference room. They painted the room and removed carpet in preparation for new laminate flooring. Over a catered lunch from Village Wayside Bar & Grille, one of the lunch sponsors of the event, Shawn explained what led her and Rich to volunteer.

“We have been fans of Warren Haynes’ music forever, and we came to Asheville for the music,” she said (they recently moved here from Virginia). “This is our first time getting to volunteer with Habitat, though.”

It was this love of the music that led them to volunteering, and they even have a block on an online radio station dedicated solely to the music of Warren Haynes.

“We’ve been to the Jam before and we love the show and it’s for such a great cause,” Shawn said. “We’re really thankful that Habitat does this.”

The event is not just a way for music fans to get involved, but also a means for potentially new volunteers to begin with us at Asheville Area Habitat. Bryan Prim, while new to the area, has volunteered with another Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Pensacola, FL, where he racked up over 100 hours with them.

“When I moved, I looked to continue volunteering here,” Bryan said. “I believe in the cause.”

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