Economy has impact on store donations
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 1, 2009
By Drew Sechler
dsechler@salisburypost.com
Just as the recession has touched all segments of the local economy, it has left its fingerprints on Habitat for Humanity stores that rely on donated items to resell.
“Our sales have been up every month, but our donations have gone down,” said Elizabeth Brady, director of store operations at Habitat’s ReStore in Salisbury.
Regina Stansel, store manager, echoed Brady’s sentiments, saying the quality of donations is also down.
People are not as willing to donate items because tough times have hit their wallets. Instead of donating items, they may be selling them to help pay their own bills. However, the store at 125 E. Innes Street still has a generous assortment of goods. You can find items ranging from wine glasses to counter tops, televisions to wheelchairs, plates to magazines รณ practically anything except clothing items.
“Everything donated, we put a price tag on and sell it,” Brady said.
The proceeds help fund Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to provide affordable housing to Rowan County citizens who otherwise couldn’t purchase their own homes.
Like the Habitat shop that just relocated from Concord to Kannapolis (see story above), the Salisbury ReStore is also on the move, with plans to relocate to a 20,000-square-foot building on South Main Street. That will be a considerable upgrade from the small storefront where the ReStore has operated for 12 years.
Along with donated items, Stansel says volunteers’ donations of time are also very much needed and appreciated. ReStore’s hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call the store at 704-642-1222.