Sandra Stipe, the Store Manager for the recently opened Habitat Store in Freeland says, “Opening this store has been a whirlwind experience. As soon as we opened the doors we had a rush of customers and donations.”
The Freeland Habitat store offers furniture, mattresses, office desks and filing cabinets, flooring (tile, laminate), lavatories, faucets, bathtubs, toilets, windows, miscellaneous lighting and doors.
Sandra notes that their first week in business they sold two showrooms of furnishings and that business is continuing at a steady pace.
A special feature of the Freeland store is a large selection of building supplies. Thanks to the Habitat Store, a significant number of usable cabinets, sinks, doors and windows has been kept out of landfills. It is hoped that, once people realize that building supplies are being accepted, the inventory will increase substantially.
The success of the new store is dependent upon donations, volunteers and buyers. Sandra is especially concerned about volunteers needed to handle a variety of tasks at the store including:
- Greeting Customers and selling items on the show room floor
- Backroom helpers to clean, sort and price items
- Merchandise Pick-ups using the Habitat truck
- Community Outreach (staffing information booths at events, meetings and orientations)
- Bakers to provide cookies and other treats for the volunteers and the customers
Proceeds benefit local Habitat for Humanity projects.
Sandra praises her team and the experience she is having: “This has been an amazing experience working in a volunteer run operation. The people who contribute their time are wonderful, hardworking folks who believe in what Habitat is all about: delivering on their promise to provide safe, decent affordable housing here on Whidbey.”
Sandra is supported by Lynn Ries, Program Director and Aimee Dixon, Resource Development Manager,
Current Habitat Store hours are Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 AM to 5 PM. The store currently accepts donations from 10 AM to 2 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. More volunteers will enable the store to expand its hours.
People can volunteer to help at the store by calling Sandra at 360 331-6272 or Lynn at 360 679-9444, or emailing southstore@islandcountyhabitat.com.
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