the life cycle of a restore donation

By Charlie Allis, Habitat Lakeside marketing intern
Every donation to the Sheboygan ReStore has a story, from the moment it leaves a home to the moment it finds a new one. Each item plays a meaningful role in supporting our mission of providing safe, affordable, and stable housing to Sheboygan County.

Recently, a Sheboygan family that had decided to remodel their home donated several truckloads of items, including nearly new kitchen cabinetry, refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines, to the ReStore. Family members said they decided before the remodeling to donate their items to the ReStore.

ReStore employees picked up the donations to help the family and to ensure that everything made it safely to the ReStore. Once items arrived at the ReStore, they were carefully evaluated, priced, and prepared for sale, allowing each item to begin a new chapter with a new owner.

One new owner is Rhonda, a ReStore customer who purchased a vanity donated by the family. Rhonda and her family are renovating their own home and plan to purchase gently used items whenever possible. Rhonda said she liked the vanity’s rustic look, which fits well with her design concept for her home. At $150, the vanity, which came fully loaded with a faucet, cost a fraction of what a similar item would have cost new.

In short, what begins as an item once new, once loved, and no longer needed in one household becomes a valuable resource for another. This cycle of reuse ensures that top-quality materials continue to serve a purpose.

The impact of each ReStore sale goes beyond the transaction itself. Revenue generated from donated goods supports all of Habitat for Humanity Lakeside’s programs, helping families achieve safe, stable, and affordable housing. Every purchase made in the ReStore contributes directly to home builds, repairs, and community initiatives. Every donation helps keep the store filled and prevents perfectly usable items from ending up in the landfill.

ReStore gladly accepts donations of gently used items. “Make sure to check what we accept and be honest about the condition of it before donating,” says John Cassabaum, Sheboygan ReStore’s pickup ambassador. He also suggests that those who opt for a pickup (rather than dropping off items during store hours) post photos of the items to be donated. “That makes the pickup process more efficient,” John says.

This family that donated the high-end cabinetry and top-of-the-line appliances to Sheboygan ReStore didn’t have to do so. They could have had their contract demo the kitchen and cart the items away. Donating to the ReStore required an extra step from the family. Their generosity will make a difference long after their items have left the home.

ReStore shopper Rhonda and her new vanity