By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County needs a new location for its ReStore thrift store.
Big Creek Crossing has allowed the organization to use the former Firestone building on the mall property on Vine for free.
However, mall management has other plans for that property. James Younger, mall manager, said he couldn't disclose those plans at this time.
The store was in the south end of the mall where Dollar Tree is now for about eight years and then moved to its present location.
Vallerie Karl, c0-director with Lorey Dreiling of the ReStore, said the mall has been very generous in letting it use the Firestone building for free. Habitat only paid for the utilities and some of the upkeep of the building.
With the mall change, the ReStore has to vacate the building by the end of the month.
Habitat is scrambling to find a new location for the ReStore, a thrift store that provides a significant amount of the funds that the agency uses to purchase and refurbish homes for families who would otherwise not be able to be homeowners.
The ReStore is offering 50 percent off of all its merchandise in an attempt to reduce inventory before the store has to move. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays this month and Tuesday, May 16.
The ReStore does not have a new location at this time. Habitat is on a limited budget and is asking anyone who might have a building they could use to contact Habitat at 785-623-4200.
"We are in the searching stage," Karl said. "Really, at this point, we're not sure what we're going to do."
The ReStore not only helps divert items from the landfill, but it has also helped people in need find furniture and other household items.
Recently the store opened its doors to a 94-year-old man who needed to furnish his apartment. The ReStore crew also helped move the furniture into his apartment.
They also helped clean out the home of a woman who had Parkinson's disease and was moving into assisted living.
"We do a lot behind the scenes that a lot of people don't know about," Karl said.
Because of the high cost of new construction, Habitat has been focusing on buying and refurbishing existing homes in Ellis County. It is taking applications for a four-bedroom home at 1809 Walnut in Ellis, Leslie Wyatt, Habitat executive director, said.
The agency also just purchased a two-bedroom home at 1702 Oak in Hays.
Applicants must meet income and sweat equity requirements. These requirements and applications can be accessed on the Habitat for Humanity website.
The agency also is taking applications for low-income local homeowners who need assistance with repairs to their homes.
Habitat is always looking for volunteers. The ReStore is completely volunteer-run. Volunteers also are needed for housing repair and home rehab projects.
Volunteers also likely will be needed toward the end of the month to move the inventory out of the former Firestone building. School clubs needing community service hours are welcome.
You also can follow ReStore and Habitat on the Habitat Facebook page.