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9/20/2012 - West Side Leader
     

By Maria Lindsay

Photos: Maria Lindsay

AKRON — Habitat for Humanity of Summit County celebrated the expansion of its Romig Road ReStore with Clive Rainey, Habitat for Humanity International’s first volunteer and inspirational speaker, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 18.

The site was expanded to add 15,000 square feet to the store at 2301 Romig Road, which increased it to 42,000 square feet, according to Habitat officials.

A group of ReStore officials are shown above far right taking part in the ribbon-cutting. Rainey is shown at center next to Rochelle Fischer, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Summit County.

“We have been taking in lots of big furniture items that took up a lot of floor space,” said Fischer. “We will now be able to display vignettes of furniture settings [with this expansion].”

One of those furniture vignettes is pictured above.

According to Habitat officials, Rainey is the first volunteer and creator of the sweat-equity program that has new homeowners taking part in building new homes. He is a longtime community relations director for Habitat International and was also the first area director to spread the Habitat mission to 12 African countries, according to Habitat officials.

Rainey said about 500,000 homes have been built by Habitat for Humanity in nearly 100 countries since it first began.

“Habitat is all about a rebirth for many families,” he added.

Habitat for Humanity of Summit County has built more than 167 homes since 1987 for qualified low-income families using donations and volunteers, according to Habitat officials.

The ReStore, a discount home improvement store, is operated by Habitat for Humanity and sells new and gently used building materials and home furnishings, all of which are donated by individuals, contractors and retailers, according to its website. All proceeds benefit Habitat’s effort to help fund the building of homes for local families in need, according to officials.

The ReStore is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more details, visit www.hfhsummit county.org/restore.aspx.

— By Maria Lindsay

     

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