Behind the Bench with the Electronics and Small Appliance Team
Every Monday, while the Asheville ReStore is closed to the public, a dedicated team of volunteers is hard at work behind the scenes sorting, testing, and pricing incoming donations. Tucked away in the very back of the first floor, in the electronics and small appliance section, you can find Core Volunteers Ned Guttman and Cecil Bennett methodically working their way through boxes of donated goods, ensuring that the items heading to the sales floor are safe and ready for a second life.
“It’s a fun couple of hours a week.”
Ned Guttman
Ned Guttman has been volunteering at the ReStore most Mondays for almost 19 years. A retired climatologist for the former United States National Climatic Data Center in downtown Asheville, Ned spent his career in both data and physical science. When he retired and found himself looking for something to do, he decided to turn his attention to Habitat.
“I knew I could do electronics and it just seemed like a good fit,” Ned shares. Today, he spends his Monday shifts testing a wide variety of electronics, ranging from security cameras and phone chargers to vintage cassette voicemail recorders, to ensure they’re fully functional before resale.
Beyond the testing itself, Ned finds that the environment offers a strong sense of community. When asked what he finds most rewarding about his nearly two decades of service, he points to the camaraderie: “Working with the people here.” It’s the simple routine of shared work that keeps him coming back. “You work with the same people for a long enough time,” he explains, “you develop friendship.” Ultimately, it’s an enjoyable way to spend his time: “It’s a fun couple of hours a week.”
Cecil Bennett
Working alongside Ned is Cecil Bennett, who brings an equal wealth of unique, hands-on experience to his volunteer role. Before volunteering with Habitat, Cecil spent 21 years serving on submarines in the US Navy and later ran his own handyman business from 2008 to 2016. He first connected with Asheville Habitat six years ago, when he attended a volunteer shift with his church group to assemble furniture. He enjoyed the experience enough to sign up for the next scheduled orientation and has been a member of the Monday Core ever since.
For Cecil, the technical work of testing appliances brings its own distinct rewards. He points to the satisfaction of a job well done. “There’s satisfaction in knowing that the stuff we put out there is going to work safely.” Like Ned, Cecil also highly values the community they’ve built in their department. “We’ve developed friendship over time, for sure.” he says. “I should be home fixing the pressure switch on a pump today, but it’s Monday.”
The team’s commitment to their work has also required a great deal of resourcefulness, particularly in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which flooded the ReStore and washed away their testing equipment. Reflecting on the loss of their tools and shelving, Cecil recalls, “we had nothing after Helene.” “Absolutely nothing,” Ned affirms. Despite the setback, the team has shown immense adaptability as they work to restore their station, celebrating small victories as their workspace is rebuilt piece by piece. “We finally got a pegboard,” Cecil shares proudly.
With their combined expertise and resilient spirits, Ned and Cecil continue to be an essential part of the ReStore’s operations. Asked what he would say to someone considering volunteering with Habitat, Cecil’s advice is simple and welcoming: “Oh, come on down. Give it a try”.
Interested in volunteering at the Restore? Learn more here.
