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Habitats ReStore remains ready for business
ribbon cut 2
The Effingham Habitat for Humanity cut the ribbon for the re-grand opening of its ReStore, which has remained in operation while it underwent a restructuring and reorganization. - photo by Photo by Pat Donahue

As its remodeling and reorganizing commenced, the Habitat for Humanity of Effingham’s ReStore remained open for business.
Habitat held its re-grand opening for its ReStore on Saturday morning, marking the completion of an undertaking that began nine months ago.

“It’s been a work since September,” said ReStore manager Rick Oglesby, who began his duties then as well. “We immediately began reorganizing and restructuring the store.”

Oglesby attended Habitat’s ReStore University in Charlotte, N.C., and put ideas learned there to use at the Effingham ReStore.

“It’s an ongoing building process to get all the infrastructure down and the store set,” he said.

There were two ways to go about reorganizing the store, Oglesby said. One was to shut it down and do it all at once, and the other was to do it in sections while keeping the store open. The Effingham Habitat chose the latter option.

Oglesby also praised the effort put in by community service workers in getting the ReStore ready.

“God blessed us with community service workers,” he said. “Whatever we needed at the time, we got. If we needed a carpenter, one would show up. If we needed an electrician, we got one.”

Proceeds from sales at the ReStore go to support Habitat’s homebuilding projects.

“None of that money has to be used for administration,” Oglesby said.

With the ReStore’s reorganization, shoppers and browsers can find items sectioned off. But there’s still opportunity for “adventurer shopping,” Oglesby pointed out.

“There are still going to be boxes people can plunder through,” he said.

The ReStore offers used and surplus building materials and home fixtures and furnishings at a discounted price. Those items are donated to the ReStore for resale.

“The first thing they taught us at ReStore University was donations, donations, donations. We don’t exist without donations,” Oglesby said. “That’s our lifeline, donations.”

Picture Perfect, a nationally-acclaimed photo finishing and picture restoration business, also has moved into the ReStore building.

Picture Perfect, which has been in business for 15 years, moved from its former Goshen Road location to the ReStore in March.
The ReStore also seeks volunteers, and Oglesby said they will come pick up donations for the ReStore.

“I think it’s one of the best-kept secrets in Effingham County,” he said.

For more on the ReStore and on Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County, visit www.effinghamhabitat.org.