Building Community Blog

The Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore in New Brighton recently got a big refresh makeover and now tons of new products are coming in for savvy shoppers.

The ReStore has undergone metamorphoses. Once a gangly caterpillar of unorganized doors, miscellaneous fixtures, and a poorly placed front desk, the ReStore wrapped itself in a cocoon of volunteers and generous support from Target in late March, and has now finally emerged as a beautiful new butterfly.

If you've ever shopped or volunteered at the Twin Cities Habitat ReStore, you may remember seeing this right when you walked in the door:

With all the snow expected throughout the day and into tomorrow, you don’t want to be left shoveling on your own. Instead, you could come out to the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore and pick up a brand new discounted electric Toro snowblower. You'll be saving yourself time and supporting Twin Cities Habitat at the same time!

ReStore is pleased to announce that Professional Performance Exterior Painthas arrived just in time for the outdoor painting season. This quality product, created especially for Habitat for Humanity, is the newest addition to the Professional Performance line that includes interior paint.

The exterior paint, which is available in white, is formulated for aluminum and vinyl siding, as well as wood, stucco, primed metal, cement block and most other surfaces.  It is suitable for brush, roller or spray application.

Drop off you old computers, bulky TVs, broken cellphones and other electronics for free recycling during ReStore’s Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The ReStore will earn 1 to 12 cents per pound from your donations—money that will help fund more Habitat projects.

“We’re filling a need,” said Michael Urness, ReStore manager. “There are no other recycling sites in Ramsey County that accept as many electronics as we will and are also free to the public. And at this point, Ramsey County itself does not operate a free e-cycling program for residents like some other metro counties do.”

ReStore customers are a talented bunch. The majority have do-it-yourself skills, ranging from beginning to advanced.

Dan O’Halloran is a self-taught craftsman who built this cabinet from a magazine picture that his wife, Dana, found. To make the cabinet doors, he bought inexpensive bi-fold doors at the ReStore and cut them to size. He also shopped the scrap bin at a home improvement store. The total cost of the 8-foot-long unit was under $200.

The cabinet solved a problem for the O’Hallorans. “We do not have a lot of cupboard space in our kitchen,” said Dana. “The cabinet is adjacent to our kitchen counter so we use the bottom of it for items that don’t fit in our kitchen storage. And, honestly, I couldn’t have a better showcase for my Depression glass collection.”