One man’s trash is another man’s treasure is an old saying that is very appropriate to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They have been located at 1402 W. Washington Street, Bloomington, IL 61701 since May 1, 2009 and prior to that they operated out of a small warehouse and held periodic garage sales to raise money. The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a fun place to go and explore because the store is stocked by donations from local community members as well as local businesses. If someone has gotten a new sofa or entertainment center, they may have donated their old furniture to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The old stove, refrigerator, washer, or dryer still works fine so when these items were replaced with new items, the old ones were donated so that someone else in the community could have use of them at a very reasonable price. It is not just home furnishings that are donated, they accept nearly everything but don’t accept used plumbing items that connect directly to a source of drinking water because of potential lead contamination. They have building materials there - doors, windows, bathroom fixtures, flooring items, kitchen cabinets, electrical items, misc. hardware items, and even paint. The items that are available vary on a daily basis so it is like going on a treasure hunt when you visit the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Donating to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore has so many benefits and since they offer free pickup of your items in McLean County, they even make it easy to donate. First, the items don’t end up in a landfill somewhere. Someone in the community gets use of them at a very reasonable price. The store presently provides employment for 5 people on either a full or part time basis, and the proceeds from the store cover all of the administrative and office expenses for the McLean County Habitat for Humanity. That means 100% of the money donated to the organization goes directly to building 5 to 8 Habitat houses each year for local families in need. Finally, they will give you a receipt to document your donation. The list of benefits cannot be fully appreciated with major benefits listed here because you can’t put a price on being able to provide for yourself or your family in an affordable way.
So if you are moving out of town, or just downsizing, consider giving your unwanted items to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and know that your donation will make a difference in the lives of many people. The folks at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore partner with various churches and other organizations in our community such as Mission Mart, which is the thrift store owned and operated by the Home Sweet Home Ministries which helps to provide food, shelter, and other supportive services to local residents in need.
How do Donated Items Help the Community?
· Members of the community get the use of otherwise unwanted items at a very reasonable price
· It keeps items out of landfills
· It provides employment for 5 people on either a full or part time basis
· It directly and indirectly supports the building of Habitat for Humanity houses in our community.
What Kinds of Items are Donated?· Appliances
· Cabinets both kitchen and bathroom
· Plumbing items
· Paint
· Flooring items such as tile, laminate, carpet remnants
· Molding, hardware of every kind
· Electrical items
· Doors, windows, roofing materials, etc. |
 |
Hours
The store is open to the public Tuesday thru Friday 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM.
VolunteersThere are approximately 40 people who volunteer at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore on a regular basis. On any given day there are 12 to 14 volunteers helping people find what they are looking for, help them load their purchases into vehicles, and process donations as they are dropped off. The volunteers make all of this possible. The proceeds from the store cover all of the administrative and office expenses for the organization so that 100% of the money donated for Habitat houses goes directly to building 5 to 8 Habitat houses each year for local families in need. |
Donated Items |
|
Items that you might find there.        |
Habitat HousesEach house has to have a sponsor organization(s) that provide $40,000 toward the house and Habitat for Humanity of McLean County covers any remaining costs. When that is combined with donations from local and national businesses for appliances and furnishings and volunteer labor, a family receives a much needed home customized for their needs. The new house is appraised and then Habitat for Humanity carries the mortgage for the new home owner until the house is paid for thus making home ownership available to people who otherwise would not qualify for a conventional mortgage. In return, they volunteer at their build and other house builds and at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, attend home ownership workshops, and prepare for home ownership. Their monthly payment then goes to pay the mortgage, taxes, and insurance just like any other homeowner.
The list of benefits cannot be fully appreciated with the major benefits listed here because you can’t put a price on being able to provide for yourself or your family in an affordable way. A donation to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore gives back to the community in so many ways. So if you are moving out of town, or just downsizing, consider giving your unwanted items to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and know that your donation will make a difference in the lives of many people.
Habitat for Humanity of McLean County
Habitat for Humanity of McLean County (HFHMC) was founded in 1985 and has been around for 30 years. It is the local branch of Habitat for Humanity International which is a faith based organization that helps people with substandard or inappropriate housing live a better life by providing them with decent and affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity of McLean County functions as a social service agency, a homebuilder, and a mortgage lender. They partner with local organizations and volunteers to provide families with an affordable place to live that meets their needs. In the 30 years since HFHMC has been around, they have helped over 150 families - nearly 600 individuals including almost 400 children. Although the families that they serve have a stable income and good credit history, they are unable to qualify for conventional home buying programs. Applicants must be citizens or legal residents, demonstrate their ability to repay the mortgage, must be willing to complete sweat equity in their home and at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore , and demonstrate their commitment to the program to be considered. In addition, they must maintain a savings account over a specified period of time and make an affordable down payment on their home. HFHMC coordinates the building of a house that meets the individual needs of the family and then sells it to them at cost thru a no-interest mortgage.
The Entire Community Benefits
The children of Habitat homeowners benefit by having a more stable life. They stay in the same schools and are 25% more likely to graduate from high school, are 116% more likely to graduate from college, are 20% less likely to become teenage mothers, have a 9% higher math score, and 7% higher reading scores than other children of low income families. Neighborhoods are developed with decent houses and a pride of ownership that builds stronger communities. Home owners are 28% more likely to improve their homes, live 4 times longer in a community than a renter, are 15% more likely to vote, and are 11% more likely to know who represents them in Congress. |
Items that you might find there.      
|
Shopping at and donating to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore benefits countless people in countless ways.
Donate Now
McLean County ReStore
1402 W. Washington St
Bloomington, IL 61701-4714
Phone: (309) 454-6047
Other Area ReStores
|
Sangamon Co HFH ReStore 2744 S. 6th St Springfield, IL 62702 (217) 523-2710 |
Champaign County ReStore 119 E. University Ave Champaign, IL 61824 (217) 819-5118 |
Peoria Area Restore 804 W. Main St Peoria, IL 61606 (309)676-8402 |
East Peoria ReStore 110 Carver Ln East Peoria, IL 61611 (309) 258-8078 |
DeWitt County ReStore 401 E. Washington St Clinton, IL 61727 (217) 935-4663 |
Decatur Area HFH ReStore 250 W Cerro Gordo St Decatur, IL 62523 (217) 422-6044 |
Habitat for Humanity International mission statement and principles
Habitat’s vision: A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Mission statement
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
Mission principles
* Demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ.
* Focus on shelter.
* Advocate for affordable housing.
* Promote dignity and hope.
* Support sustainable and transformational development.
Non-proselytizing policy
Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations will not proselytize. Nor will HFH work with entities or individuals who insist on proselytizing as part of their work with HFH. This means that HFH will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must adhere to or convert to a particular faith or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
