Henry Krippner is the Habitat for Humanity ReStore manager.
1. Why was the Habitat ReStore established?
"It was established to raise money to pay for more homes to be built. It was established to pay for staff and running the (local Habitat for Humanity) organization."
2. What do you sell at the store?
"We sell most everything. We sell building supplies. We sell appliances, furniture, kitchenware, books, records. We even have a whole collectibles department. It might (include) musical instruments. It might (include) dish ware. It might (include) silver. It might (include) crystal. But we also sell lamps, electrical things, doorknobs, hardware for doors, cement blocks.
"We don't sell clothing. We don't sell mattresses and box springs. And we avoid dishwashers because 85 percent of them are taken out of a house because there was something wrong with them."
3. Do you have any requirements for the items that are sold at the store?
"The only real requirements are that they - and this is a judgment call - are saleable. If it doesn't work, I can't use it. If I can't sell it, there's no point in me sending a truck out to pick it up."
4. How much money has the store made in the last year?
"Our store has grossed in the last year the equivalent of the cost of materials for four houses."
5. What kind of jobs do you have for volunteers at the store?
"We always need strong people, physically healthy people who can pick up items from the home. People who can help with moving and unloading furniture. People who can add and subtract. People who can handle the cash register. I need people who can clean, who can wipe down things. They can learn to evaluate things. We have about 40 to 45 volunteers in the store. We have people who work in what we call the back room - the receiving area."
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
