Community contributors support Habitat ReStore

"I did not know a place like this existed in Springfield." "I'm like a kid in a candy shop." "If I'd only known about this place before I started my project."

These are phrases repeated at the Habitat ReStore on a daily basis one of the things that make my job one of the best around. It's the opportunity to offer folks a place where they can experience the joys of "packratting" without the guilt or having to deal with limited storage.

What am I talking about? Habitat Re-Store, the new and used building materials warehouse at 4535 W. Chestnut Expwy. in Springfield.

The warehouse was started two years ago as one of our local Habitat affiliates designed to help us continue to improve housing standards and fund the construction of Habitat for Humanity homes for families who are willing to work on a hand-up, not a hand-out.

We just finished our most profitable month yet and, as the Habitat for Hu-manity motto goes, "The Excitement is Building!"

There are many people working throughout the community and state to see that the ReStore continues on the journey of success success measured by its ability to fund construction and provide environmentally friendly alternatives to disposing of items that otherwise would be destined for the landfill. It's a resource that provides job training and fosters community spirit, and at the same time gives anyone the opportunity to improve their living space at a low cost.

Here are just some of our partners:

Of course it began with the Habitat for Humanity Board, who envisioned our possibilities of and are continually offering guidance and skills while tending to matters of family selection, construction, land acquisition, funding, long range development and all the many issues that go with dedicating spare time to a not-for-profit organization.

This they do all because they see a mission that is meeting one of the most basic needs that the citizens of our country and others deserve to enjoy that of finding decent homes for the benefit of their families.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks: We received a grant to assist us with our community service programs, in which we are partners with the American Association of Retired Persons Foundation providing job experience for seniors in transition, the Missouri Career Center Work Experience Program providing job skills for youth who are pursuing General Education Development (GED) certificates and the Summer Youth Employment program. We also participate in the work experience programs of Citizenship and Service Learn-ing and Student Community Action Team, which utilize college students from Drury University and Southwest Missouri State University, and the Com-munity Alternative Sentencing Program, which provides us regular workers for the warehouse.

All of these folks see what we are doing, get enthused and provide us with ideas, energy, and more customers and donors.

The Department of Natural Resources and Solid Waste Management District O, have provided us with grants for equipment to expand our waste reduction cap-abilities within this solid waste management district and to other Southwest Missouri districts. These grants are going to really help us meet our goals for the future.

State of Missouri Neighborhood As-sistance Program will provide us NAP tax credits, which will help our affiliate and the ReStore.

The Corporation for National Service AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service To America program provides us with qualified volunteers to set up systems which further growth.

The Ozarks Correctional Center In-mates in Action and Restorative Justice program provides us with offender volunteers for special projects and construction

United Way of the Ozarks, Day of Caring, Aaron's Automotive and St. John's have provide us with work crews that have resulted in more contacts with the community. Habitat for Humanity is a United Way Agency.

Most important for this remodeling issue of the Springfield Business Journal, and far too numerous to name individually, are the many contractors and their employees who make sure that we receive the donations that enable the ReStore to have good quality new and used building products to sell.

It is these businesses and individuals that make possible through their de-ductible charitable donations receipts the achievement of our goals for Habitat for Humanity.