Habitat for Humanity opens ReStore

Connie Mosbaugh, director for the Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity, said the ReStore is a great place for area contractors and retail chains to drop off their surplus supplies so that tri-state residents can purchase home décor or renovation materials at a fraction of the original cost.

“We’ve already received donations from Wayside Furniture, Trade-X, Lowe’s and a handful of contractors,” Mosbaugh said. “We’ve got everything from lighting to doors and windows, and even home décor items.”

Mosbaugh said the ReStore will carry just about anything that might be used in building or decorating a home. All proceeds from the store go toward the building of new Habitat homes in the tri-state area.

The startup capital for the ReStore was made available through two state grants equaling about $25,000 combined. Some other expenses have been funded by a private gift given to the local Habitat branch, Mosbaugh said.

The building is one that had been foreclosed. Mid-Missouri Bank held the title, and Mosbaugh said Habitat intended to lease the building.

“We quickly realized it was cheaper to buy,” she said. “Now we have a nice, big 12,000-square-foot building. We’ve got room for spillover storage in the back and when the weather is nice we open up the back garage doors, put up some sawhorses and get some volunteers to help us stain some of the furniture.

“It’s definitely been a blessing. The city is moving this way and we’re already starting to see a lot of traffic.”

Mosbaugh said eventually she will move her office into the ReStore building. Her office is currently in the basement of an office complex on Turk Street.

Mary Anne Phillips, who works with the Joplin’s public works department, has been helping move a lot of the furnishings and supplies into the new building and said she can’t believe some of the things people will throw away that are still perfectly good quality.

“It boggles the mind,” she said. “It’s 2007 and there are still stores that will throw away things. Some have to throw away their surplus because they get back credit for it or because they don’t want to be associated with poor quality. There’s a lot thrown away that doesn’t need to be.”

Phillips said she will have some items in the ReStore as well, such as a rainwater recycling bin. She said she’s been waiting a long time for Joplin to get a ReStore.

“I’ve been waiting for this for almost eight years,” she said. “Ever since the one in Kansas City was opened. That store makes $3 million-plus a year. (Mosbaugh and I) went to a national conference this year and got some wonderful ideas about how to run a ReStore, so it’s nice to finally be able to do it.”

The ReStore is currently only open on Fridays and Saturdays, but Mosbaugh said it will be open every day of the week once she is able to move the Habitat offices into the new building.

The ReStore is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Those wishing more information about Habitat for Humanity or about the new ReStore can contact Mosbaugh at (417) 782-6533.