First ReStore to Open in Cincinnati This Spring

New and Used Home Supplies Offered to Public - Will Fund Cincinnati Habitat Efforts

CINCINNATI - For 24 years, Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity has provided affordable homeownership opportunities for deserving local families. In 2010, Cincinnati Habitat is taking a huge step to increase its building capacity in order to help more Cincinnatians each year.

Cincinnati Habitat will be opening a ReStore, a retail outlet that will accept new and used donated goods for resale to the public. Funds generated from the ReStore will go to support the local home building efforts Habitat for Humanity. There are 638 ReStores operating across the country. While every ReStore is a little different, most focus on home improvement goods. The Cincinnati ReStore will be accepting donations of building materials and supplies, furniture, home accessories and appliances.

Materials sold by Habitat ReStores are usually donated by local retailers, contractors and individuals in the community. ReStores provide an environmentally and socially responsible way to divert good, reusable materials from landfills while simultaneously providing a sustainable revenue stream to help fund Habitat's community improvement work. These donated goods are sold to the general public at a fraction of the retail price while donors to the ReStore may be eligible to receive a tax deduction for their contribution.

Cincinnati Habitat has signed a lease with an option to buy a 35,000-square-foot building located at 4910 Para Drive in Bond Hill. It will house the ReStore, warehouse space, training space and office space. The Restore is currently accepting donations, and plans to open to the public in the spring.

"We are confident that the ReStore will be a tremendous asset to our community," said Casey Huber, ReStore Director. "Building supply stores, contractors, demolition crews or individuals who wish to support Habitat for Humanity can donate new or quality used building and housing supplies. We will actually be saving them money that they'd have to pay to take the supplies to a dump. Plus, we offer a great deal for consumers who are trying to save money on home improvement projects."

In the past, Cincinnati Habitat had to refuse hundreds donations due to lack of space. With the newly acquired space, Cincinnati Habitat will accept donated reusable and surplus building materials to sell to the public at reduced prices and to use in the construction of Habitat homes which will drive down costs of home construction while generating revenue to fund the local Habitat operation.

"We are thankful for the support we've received so far, and we'll be seeking continual support for these efforts," said Tom Salzbrun, Executive Director of Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity. "With the ReStore, we're developing a new revenue stream that will allow all charitable donations made to CHFH to be applied toward building construction. This will help us reach our goal of eliminating substandard housing and improving lives and transforming neighborhoods in Cincinnati."

About Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity

Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate substandard housing by building simple, decent, affordable homes to sell to low-income families in need. Cincinnati Habitat works in equal partnership with families, volunteers and donors building a sense of community as well as affordable housing. Our partners include corporations, churches, foundations, organizations and individual donors who donate money, labor and materials to fund and build our homes. Cincinnati Habitat has built over 170 homes in neighborhoods that include Avondale, Clifton, Columbia Tusculum, Evanston, Harrison, Hyde Park, Lincoln Heights, Lockland, Madisonville, Mt. Auburn, Mt. Washington, North Fairmount, Northside, Oakley, Over-the-Rhine, Price Hill, South Cumminsville, South Fairmount, Walnut Hills, Westwood and Winton Place. For more information, visit www.cincinnati-habitat.org.