Habitat for Humanity's Volunteer of the Year, Dennis Kirby

      Throughout the year, Habitat for Humanity continues to have a flow of volunteers who dedicate their time on our building projects, A Brush with Kindness projects, and in also in our ReStore.

      Dennis Kirby, who has put in 770 volunteer hours at the ReStore, has been awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award. A dedicated volunteer since 2009, we have been so blessed to have a volunteer who gives back to their community. Please join us as we recognize this year's Volunteer of the Year and thank him for all the dedication he has put into the ReStore. 

      The ReStore at the Habitat for Humanity in the Southern Santa Barbara County sells home improvement products and 100% of the proceeds go back to Habitat. The materials sold in the ReStore are donated from the community and the proceeds go to Habitat and helps to cover administrative costs. This allows Habitat to use a large majority of the funds raised to go towards our low income building projects. Donating or shopping at the Restore is a way that you can help support Habitat's mission to provide affordable housing in Santa Barbara!

      The ReStore is located on 6860 Cortona Drive, Suite A, Goleta CA 93117. We are open from 11am-5pm on Tuesdays through Saturdays! Come check out the ReStore and we definitely encourage you all to get involved in our community as well!

Habitat ReStore Steal of the Week

Every week the Habitat ReStore puts one item on deep discount as the Steal of the Week.

This week's Steal of the Week is a beautiful 9-Light Chandelier. It was $230, now just $50.

The Steal of the Week is valid through the close of business on Saturday. The item must be paid in full and removed from the store at the time of purchase. Holds are not allowed on Steal of the Week merchandise.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore
6860 Cortona Drive, Suite A
Goleta, CA  93117
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 11am to 5pm
805-692-2226
www.sbhabitat.org/restore.php

Bishop Diego High School volunteers at the ReStore

On Saturday, November 10th Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County welcomed a hardworking group of students from Bishop Diego High School at the Habitat ReStore.

They were a joy to be with and a pleasure to work alongside. Here at Habitat we're thankful for their commitment to giving back to the community!

Interested in volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Santa Barbara? Our next volunteer orientation will take place Saturday, December 8th at 10am. More details can be found here.

More United Way Day of Caring Photos

Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County was thankful to host two groups of volunteers during United Way's Day of Caring on September 15th.  A group of volunteers from Westmont College joined us at the Habitat ReStore, while another group from Santa Barbara Bank and Trust helped with exterior home repairs at our A Brush with Kindness project in the Hidden Valley neighborhood of Santa Barbara.

Day of Caring volunteers from Westmont College.

Day of Caring volunteers from Santa Barbara Bank and Trust.

One completed wall of the A Brush with Kindness house.

United Way of Santa Barbara posted a number of photos from the day on their Facebook page. See if you can spot the photos of the volunteers out at the Habitat A Brush with Kindness site! 

And thank you to all of the volunteers who spend their day volunteering with Habitat for Humanity! We rely on volunteers to accomplish our mission of providing safe, decent, and affordable housing.

How the ReStore Works, A Movie

You Never Know What You'll Find at the ReStore

Yesterday a beautiful driftwood spiral staircase was donated to the Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County ReStore. It's not everyday that such a unique item is donated, but we're happy to take it!

Come see it in person if you're in the Santa Barbara area. Located at 6725 Hollister Avenue in Goleta, the ReStore is open: Tuesday - Fridays from 12-5pm and Saturdays from 9am to 5pm. Inventory can also be viewed online on www.sbhabitat.org.

Habitat for Humanity Volunteers and Interns

The driving force behind Habitat for Humanity Southern Santa Barbara County is our corps of community volunteers—those who provide much of the house-building labor, keep our ReStore operational, and help in the office. 

These volunteers represent individuals, students, civic groups, and faith groups who make our work possible. We are fortunate to have three colleges and universities in our service area and welcome volunteer groups, service learning clubs, fraternities, and interns from the University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College, and Westmont College. 

Many students fulfill their community service requirements by volunteering with Habitat, and both UCSB and Westmont have active Habitat for Humanity campus clubs who are eager to volunteer and help in the community. 

This summer we were fortunate to have Lauren interning with us from the University of California, Davis. Lauren helped with the online marketing and promotion of the ReStore's merchandise. This is no small task as items come and go from the ReStore on a daily (nay hourly) basis. Lauren also helped with the planning and day-of tasks of the ReStore's annual summer BBQ and sale. Last week we celebrated her last day with us. All staff and volunteers were sad to see her go, but thankful for the many hours she interned with Habitat this summer. She will be missed!

Lauren and Erica preparing food for the July ReStore BBQ.

Volunteers and staff posing with Lauren on her last day in the office.

500 Hour Club

Here at Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara we are fortunate to have many wonderful volunteers who make our mission possible. With such a small staff, we couldn't do what we do without our volunteers. It is because of them that our ReStore remains staffed, our building projects are constructed, and A Brush with Kindness projects are completed. 

We have five current volunteers who have put in over 500 volunteers hours at the Habitat ReStore. Think about it, that is a lot of time! We call this group the "500 Hour Club" and they can be recognized by their stylish ReStore caps. 

Last Saturday we were lucky to indoctrinate Charley into the club. For the past 3 years Charley has been an essential volunteer on Fridays. Please join us in thanking Charley for his commitment to Habitat for Humanity and the ReStore!

4 of the 5 "500 Hour Club" volunteers.

ReStore Sale Saturday July 21st

Mark your calendar for the ReStore's annual summer sale and free BBQ on Saturday, July 21st. 

Building Homes, Building Hope by the numbers

We are thrilled to share some of Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County's recent goals and results.

GOAL 1: Provide affordable housing in Santa Barbara:

•        Habitat has completed stable homes for 7 families in our community.

•          Habitat will begin construction on 12 more homes in the fall of 2012.

GOAL 2: Partner with low-income homeowners in need of home maintenance:

•        Habitat has completed 6 home repairs through our A Brush with Kindness program.

•         Volunteers from 8 organizations and community groups helped completed these projects.

GOAL 3: Generate a sustainable income for our affiliate though the ReStore:

•        Profits at the ReStore are up 72% for the first six months of this fiscal year.

•          The first six months of the fiscal year ReStore cover 68% of Habitat’s operating costs.

GOAL 4: Facilitate in the re-use of construction materials and home-improvement items:

•        The ReStore truck completed 144 donation pick-ups for the first 5 months of 2012.

•         This is in addition to the 322 donation drop-offs made directly at the ReStore for the same time.

GOAL %: Mobilize volunteers and community groups to support our Habitat's mission:

•         The ReStore welcomed 131 volunteers in 2012, resulting in 1,729 volunteer hours. 

•        From May 2011-May 2012 the ReStore clocked 5,381 volunteer hours. 

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Painted birdhouses for sale at the ReStore

Did you visit the ReStore's booth at the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival last month? If so, than you already know that we were part of the festival's children's passport activity. The passport is a game that encourages kids to visit a number of booths around the entire festival and complete designated games or crafts. In Habitat for Humanity's booth we had children help paint bird houses which were built by ReStore volunteers using donated lumber. The birdhouses are now $5 at the ReStore, and all proceeds go directly back to Habitat!


Throughout the two-day festival eight birdhouses were painted by hundreds of children who participated in the activity. It was such a fun weekend and we're thankful for all the kids who helped paint some very colorful birdhouses!

Volunteer Spotlight

The Habitat ReStore was fortunate to recently welcome grounds of volunteers from Lookheed Martin and Ocean Hills Covenant Church.

Are you looking volunteer or be involved with Habitat for Humanity in Santa Barbara?

  

Donate used items to the ReStore. All revenue from the ReStore goes directly back to Habitat and helps build additional low-income homes in Santa Barbara. Read our donation guidelines for  information on what we are able to accept.   

Donate an old vehicle through Habitat's Cars For Homes program. Cars for Homes will handle all of the hauling away hassles, and provide a tax donation receipt. www.carsforhomes.org or 1-877-277-4344  

Get Your Community Involved. Pray, Give, Serve. Click here for ways congregations can put their faith into action.    

Volunteer at the ReStore. The ReStore is open Tuesday - Saturdays and we need volunteers to help in the store. Our next volunteer orientation will be Saturday, May 19th, 10am at the ReStore. 

Did You Know: ReStore edition

Did you know....the Habitat ReStore in Santa Barbara continues to break records. 

• Net profits at the ReStore are up 72% for the first six months of the current fiscal year, over the same period for 2010;
• The ReStore has redirected over 500 tons of usable building material from our local landfills; 
• 100% of the proceeds from the ReStore go to Habitat for Humanity.
• Donating to, and shopping at the ReStore is another way that you can help support Habitat for Humanity's mission to provide affordable housing in Santa Barbara.

The ReStore is a wonderful and sustainable revenue source for our local affiliate. All material sold in the ReStore is donated from the community and the proceeds go directly back to Habitat and help cover our administrative costs. This allows Habitat for direct a large majority of the funds we raise to our low-income building projects. 

Come visit the ReStore. New inventory arrives daily. 

6725 Hollister Avenue in Goleta. Open Tuesday - Friday from 12-5pm; Saturdays from 9am to 5pm.

Free Electronic Waste Recycling

Looking to get rid of your electronic waste? In honor of Earth Day, Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County will be collecting your e-waste in exchange for a 20% off coupon to the ReStore on Saturday, April 21st. 

 We are only able to accept smaller electronics, including:

• cameras
• batteries
• printer cartridges
• e-book readers
• chargers
• ipads, ipods, iphones
• video games and consules
• and other small items (no larger than an ipad)

Drop off your e-waste at the ReStore: 6725 Hollister Avenue, Goleta. The ReStore will be open on April 21st from 9am to 5pm.

Volunteer Spotlight: Katie Stuwe

We love celebrating our volunteers here at Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County. For one thing, we couldn't do what we do without their commitment and dedication to Habitat's mission. Every week we welcome dozens of volunteers through our doors and we rely on their hard work and effort to keep the ReStore open and running.

Today we celebrated Katie Stuwe. Katie is a UCSB grad student who started volunteering with Habitat in the fall of 2011. Katie regularly volunteers in the ReStore and we're so thankful for her cheerful and friendly personality.

Interested in volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Santa Barbara? Sign up online or attend our next volunteer orientation on March 10th at 10am in the ReStore, 6725 Hollister Avenue, Goleta.

Vandenbeg Air Force Volunteers help in the Habitat ReStore

On Tuesday, January 24th over 25 Vandenberg Air Force Bank volunteers helped in Habitat for Humanity's ReStore. We love it when groups of volunteers come down from Vandenberg because they are always a fun group, and extremely hardworking. We often set aside larger projects for them to complete and are always amazed by how quickly they are able to complete the projects.

What's for Sale at the ReStore

ReStore Inventory, a set on Flickr.

Want to see a selection of what is for sale at the ReStore before you drive out to our location at 6725 Hollister Avenue? You're in luck, we post photos almost daily of the appliances, doors, windows, cabinets, and oather new inventory that comes in. As all items at the ReStore are donated from companies and individuals, we carry mostly one-off or one-of-a-kind items. This slideshow isn't everything, but it will give you an idea of what is currently on the sales floor. We do try and take down items that have sold, but do call or come see it for yourself to make sure it is still available.