HOW TO RESTORE
After five tremendous years of partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley, Habitat Chicago has proudly assumed full ownership and operations of ReStore Chicago.
What is ReStore, you ask? Think of it as a whole new category of retail therapy. It's our way of keeping home goods and appliances out of the landfill, funneling much-needed funds back into the community, and providing conscious consumers with quality items at discounted prices.
How can you get in the action? It’s simple: Shop. Donate. Volunteer.
Shop
Open Tuesday – Sunday from 10 AM – 6 PM at 6040 N. Pulaski Rd., opportunities abound for you to find rare, interesting tools, furniture, and fixtures at ReStore Chicago. Our inventory comes from all over Chicago. Some items are salvaged from remodel projects, some are collected over a lifetime of home improvement projects, and some are donated by one of our corporate partners following a trade show.
No matter what it is or where it comes from, every item can add value to your home. Here are some ways to repurpose common items found at ReStore:
>> Turn a window into a chalkboard.
>> Turn a table into matching nightstands.
>> Turn a dresser drawer into a storage box.
In addition to gaining new décor in your home, you gain the warm and fuzzy feeling of doing good. By buying from ReStore, you reduce the resources consumed and carbon generated in the production of new goods, all while shopping at a discount and knowing your hard-earned money is being used to build a city where everyone has a decent place to live.
With an ever-evolving inventory, you never know what you may find.
Donate
Maybe you have items that no longer spark joy in you. Maybe you have a great couch that just won’t fit in your new apartment. Maybe you are fortunate enough to have more things than you need. Rather than having items clutter up your life or sending them to the landfill, consider a donation to ReStore instead.
To donate to ReStore Chicago, check this list to see if we will be able to accept your items. Then bring them on by anytime Tuesday – Sunday from 10 AM – 5:30PM. Have an item too large to transport on your own? No sweat! We have a big ol’ truck and a courteous team to come out and grab your larger items from you. All you need to do is check this list to see if your items are approved and fill out the form at the bottom of this page. Then one of our ReStore staff members will be in touch to take it from there.
By donating to ReStore, you can have the satisfaction of a ship-shape home and giving somebody else the chance to love a second-hand treasure.
Volunteer
At its core, Habitat is a volunteer-driven organization. ReStore is no different. Volunteers contribute in every way to make ReStore successful.
We need individuals to ride on the truck loading up donations from homes and businesses. We need folks to talk with customers about their projects and to make sure they get everything they need. We need people who think assembling furniture and testing light fixtures is fun. We need volunteers who get a kick out of searching the internet to find fair prices on unique pieces.
Shifts at the ReStore are short, flexible, and certain to get your creativity flowing. So, if you have a jam-packed schedule or just want to volunteer for a few hours, this is the volunteer experience for you.
Whether you want to volunteer by yourself or come out with a group, you’re sure to have a memorable, first-hand experience at our unforgettable, second-hand store.
Last year alone, we received 4,020 donations, diverted 854 tons of useful goods from landfills, and raised $496,710 in support of the Habitat mission. Imagine what we will accomplish together with five more years under our belt!
