When Habitat For Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) recently hosted an event to celebrate the completion of its largest-ever affordable housing development at Leahy’s Lane, guests were given the opportunity to tour a unit that was beautifully staged by Angela Jones of Lakeshore Designs with elegant furniture and décor.
It might surprise you to learn that all the items in that staged unit came from Habitat PKR’s three ReStores located in Lindsay, Peterborough, and Lakefield.
The non-profit home improvement stores and donation centres sell both new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances to the public, often at a fraction of the retail price.
“When people think ReStores, they assume everything is gently used, but that’s not the case,” says Lindsay ReStore manager Colleen Attwell. “We have made many connections with businesses in Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, and Haliburton and, if they have a surplus or extra on certain items, they’re willing to donate it to ReStore.”
As for gently used items, customers can be assured that all the ReStores only accept donations that are in good condition and ready to be resold. Each item undergoes a quality control test and, if required, it gets fixed or cleaned before being made available for sale to the public.
Along with the Lindsay ReStore at 55 Angeline Street North, Habitat PKR also operates the Peterborough North ReStore at 300 Milroy Drive and the Lakefield ReStore at 3001 Lakefield Road, which opened this past summer. The inventories at all three ReStores are regularly updated with both new and gently used items.
“We have a revolving stock with lots of one-of-a-kind items, so you can come into a ReStore any day of the week and there’s always going to be something different,” says Habitat PKR communications and marketing manager Holly O’Connor. “Not only can you find aesthetic hidden treasures, but they are often of better quality than the mass-produced items at regular stores.”
The largest of the three locations, the Lindsay ReStore now features a fresh layout where shoppers will find plenty of inspiration for their living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and more.
“It gives shoppers an idea of what the item would look like at home, and it also gives them that warm, cozy feeling when they walk in the front door,” Attwell explains. “It gives them a great shopping experience.”
Attwell is a familiar face at the Lindsay ReStore as she worked in Lindsay for nine years before temporarily relocating to the Peterborough North ReStore. After opening that ReStore store and getting it running for the past three years, Attwell is happy to have returned to her hometown store earlier this year.
Providing additional incentives for shoppers, the Lindsay ReStore often hosts flash sales and additional discounts or bargains.
“People want great items at a great price,” says Attwell. “We get tons of donations, so it’s very important to us to put sales on as we see the need on a day-to-day basis.”
Whether it’s a product-wide sale on all chairs or homeware, or upwards of 75 per cent off a sofa, or even a whole kitchen set at a more accessible price compared to regular home improvement stores, there are always ways to save a buck or two — or even hundreds — at a ReStore. And, since all purchases are tax-free, the price you see is the price you pay.
Those looking for the best deals and discounts can sign up for Habitat PKR’s bi-weekly ReStore newsletter. As a ReStore insider, you’ll be the first to know about the latest news and sales at all three ReStore locations, and also have access to exclusive offers.
Alongside being good for the wallet, shopping at a ReStore is good for the environment. Because the ReStores accept donated items from the community, this means they don’t get discarded. In 2023 alone, Habitat ReStores diverted 331,730 items from the landfill.
Free pick-ups of donated items from both homes and businesses can be arranged for anywhere within the Peterborough and Kawarthas region. In October, Habitat PKR unveiled a new ReStore truck — funded by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation — that will reduce wait times for people donating items, streamline scheduling, and allow more frequent service to the rural communities the organization serves.
Alternatively, people can drop off their donated items at a ReStore and, in exchange, will receive a coupon for 25 per cent off their next ReStore purchase.
VIDEO: Habitat PKR’s Kitchen and Home Deconstruction Program
Habitat PKR also runs kitchen and home deconstruction program, which offers homeowners a free removal service of kitchens and large built-in items that are then sold in ReStores.
Volunteers — who are often retired skilled trades workers looking to give back to their community — will remove items like kitchen cabinets, countertops, appliances, windows, bathroom fixtures, and more. As well as donating items for a good cause, homeowners may also qualify for a charitable tax receipt for their donation.
“It’s a great way for us to keep those items out of landfills,” says O’Connor. “It’s also fantastic for people who are renovating, whether refurnishing their cottages or looking to stay within budget. Renovating a home can be expensive, but this approach allows people to remove an entire kitchen for free, while someone else can acquire it for significantly less than retail value. Plus, everyone involved supports affordable homeownership in their local community.”
“People love to go thrift shopping, but a lot of thrift stores are not charities,” O’Connor adds. “When you shop at a Restore or when you donate items, you know that the funds are going right back into your local community to help your neighbours.”
That includes families like Brittany and Jason who, along with their two young daughters, moved into a four-bedroom family home in Lindsay built by Habitat PKR, whose affordable homeownership program offers eligible families the opportunity to buy a home with no downpayment and an affordable mortgage geared to their income.
“It really does show what the ReStore can do,” O’Connor says. “It’s a win for shoppers, a win for donors, a win for homeowners, and a win for the Earth.”
For more information on Habitat PKR ReStores, visit www.habitatpeterborough.ca/restores/
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Habitat For Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
