Our readers, savvy shoppers indeed, have chosen Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore Ulster County as their favorite Furniture Store and Housewares/Furnishings destination. ReStores are independently owned and operated by local Habitat chapters, selling donated items at a fraction of retail. Proceeds support Habitat’s mission of helping build homes for the Ulster County community.
“It’s the epitome of a mission-driven, community-oriented effort for Ulster County residents,” says ReStore Manager Lee Anne Albritton, “and an eco-friendly way to minimize waste and reduce landfill contributions. Plus, it’s a fun atmosphere and provides a ‘pay it forward’ camaraderie that can be rare in the world of retail.”
You never know what’s at the ReStore. “Every day it’s a chorus of ‘Look what I found!’ from staff, volunteers, and customers,” says Albritton. A partial list of recent memorable items on sale: a caviar chiller, a debarking knife, a wooden neck rest for Saharan nomads, an entire maple kitchen cabinetry set in perfect condition, antique captain’s chairs from the Depuy Canal House, three ceramic mugs from Steve Ladin’s Tin Can series, an industrial kiln, a 1950s metal detector, and a Brazilian rosewood writer’s desk with hidden compartments and inkwell.
All day, every day, ReStore customers participate in the big-hearted adventure alongside volunteers and staff. “I love when people purchase things they weren’t expecting to find, as simple as a vegetable peeler or as cool as a 1950s orange enameled plate warmer,” says Albritton. “Almost every customer shares a quick story of what their purchase means for them.”
The fun’s all the deeper for the mission, says Albritton. “Someone donating or purchasing something as simple as a teacup means that a family will get to wake up, cook, shower, do laundry, have game night in a house they own. How amazing is that?”
