From Home Goods to Homeownership: How Habitat ReStore Transforms Everyday Items into Affordable Housing

Did you know that your gently used furniture, appliances, and home décor could help build a home for a family? That’s the mission of Habitat ReStore, a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center that turns everyday home and garden items into life-changing opportunities. By selling donated goods at affordable prices, Habitat ReStore generates funds to support Habitat for Humanity’s mission—helping families achieve safe, decent, affordable housing. Every couch, lamp, or garden tool purchased at ReStore contributes to building and repairing homes right in our community.

Exciting Changes: Grand Reopening in April!

Big things are happening at our Habitat ReStore! Thanks to a generous grant from the Cannon Foundation, we’ve expanded our space and increased efficiency. With brand-new shelving that increases our vertical storage by 50%, we can now display even more great finds for shoppers and turn over inventory faster.

Join us on April 22nd at 10:00 am for our Grand Reopening Celebration, where you can explore the newly improved space, take advantage of special deals, and see firsthand how your purchases and donations help build homes. Stay tuned for event details—we can’t wait to welcome you!

How You Can Get Involved

• Donate: Drop off gently used furniture, appliances, cabinets, lighting fixtures, and building materials.
• Shop: Find high-quality items at budget-friendly prices while supporting a great cause.
• Build: Proceeds from every purchase go directly toward constructing affordable homes in our community.
• Volunteer: Flexible hours are available in the ReStore or the Construction site.

Beyond supporting housing projects, Habitat ReStore also promotes sustainability by giving new life to pre-loved items and keeping them out of landfills. It’s a win-win: shoppers save money, donors declutter purposefully, and families find a place to call home.

Want to make a difference? Donate, shop, or volunteer at your local Habitat ReStore today! See the transformation for yourself and be part of something bigger—every purchase helps build a home!

Our Gala has a Special Guest

In honor of our " Great Gatsby" Theme

The excitement is building as our dedicated committee finalizes preparations for this year’s Habitat Gala & Auction, our signature fundraising event! This unforgettable evening will feature a gourmet dinner, open bar, and the opportunity to bid on incredible auction items—all supporting our mission to build safe and affordable housing. Tickets are selling fast! If you haven’t secured your spot yet, now is the time. Don’t miss an evening of elegance, philanthropy, and community spirit.

For an elevated experience, VIP ticket holders will enjoy premier seating, exclusive gifts, and access to a top-shelf bar, making the night even more spectacular.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Home Dedications

Volunteer Appreciation Week

Tuesday, April 22 – Habitat ReStore Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast and ReStore Grand ReOpening at 10 am

Thursday, April 24—Pastor’s Day will kick off Apostles Build, with pastors volunteering to build that day. St. Joseph of the Pines will provide an appreciation breakfast and lunch to the pastors.

Friday, April 25 – 5 pm: Road Dedication, Veterans Build Home Dedication, and Construction Volunteer recognition and dinner. Location: 547 Freida May Lane in Addor (off Addor Rd.). Open to the public.

Small Church, Big Effect

The churches that find their way to Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills to contribute with dollars, volunteer builders, or other ways to help vary from very large to tiny. Each of those churches has ways to reach out to its community. We are grateful when they can see the power of their involvement in giving a hand up. Some find ways to make extraordinary and bold contributions to their community.

Habitat home building is well underway in the Addor community. One of the small churches there, soon to participate in that effort, is New Zion AME Zion Church, pastored by Charles A. McKnight, Sr., for the last 15 years. Pastor McKnight, with his wife Barbara at his side, has grown the church to about 120 members.

Pastor Charles explained that he had seen many people struggling when COVID hit. He pondered where they could make the biggest impact to help. Food was an obvious immediate need for many, so the church began focusing on providing for the Food Bank. They were informed that food was accepted, but that $1 could provide five meals. They wanted to make the strongest impact they could.

Whenever there were matching donations available, the church increased its impact by pairing with those matching funds. In late 2024, the church received a commemorative sign posted above the sanctuary entrance acknowledging their equivalent of 100,000 meals donated through their food ministry. New Zion AME Zion is a small church that has earned the honor of being the largest contributing church at the Food Bank.

Loss of One Amazing Habitat Volunteer

Earnest Strickland, a well-known and beloved Deacon at Freedom Baptist Church in Rockingham, passed away on February 24. Our Apostles Build partners likely recognize his smiling face because Earnest often attended the Faith Relations luncheons, including the one held on February 19 at Southern Pines First Baptist.

Earnest is a hard loss for one of the anchor churches of Apostles Build under Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills. Freedom Baptist Church, where Earnest served as a deacon, has been a strong supporter of Apostles Build. Earnest was a strong volunteer with the Apostles Build and other Habitat building and repair work.  

Earnest, an accomplished football player throughout high school and college, started playing semi-pro with The Carolina Storm after finishing his college degree. While he was still playing for the Carolina Storm, he began a career in transportation and eventually had his own trucking business. Most of all, though, he is remembered for his caring and helpful ways, volunteering with various organizations, tending to those in hospice as a Chaplain, and teaching Sunday School. Habitat for Humanity was one organization where he often stepped up to volunteer with building and repairs. He would quickly decline any show of appreciation, saying, ”I’m just tending to my Father’s business.” He was the type of man who didn’t wait to be asked. He just did what was needed.

His obituary ends by saying that in addition to leaving so many family members and his church family behind, he left “an army of cousins and friends.” Habitat for Humanity volunteers, especially our Apostles Build community, count among those friends. We have lost a good friend.

Building Strength:

A Celebration of Women’s Empowerment

Pinehurst Country Club buzzed with energy as women from all walks of life gathered to celebrate empowerment, strength, and community. On International Women’s Day, Habitat had organized a special event to honor the incredible women who come together to make a difference, inspiring women and students to pursue careers of their dreams. Thank you to all who supported the Women Build on Saturday—many thanks to Jennie Cunningham, who inspired us to live our best lives.

Habitat Welcomes New Business Partner- McKee Homes

We are thrilled to welcome new partners in our mission to create safe, affordable housing for our community! Thank you to McKee Homes for stepping up as a Platinum Pinnacle Sponsor and for their incredible work on the build site.

Their expertise and dedication made a tremendous impact, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support. Having home builders volunteer on-site is a game-changer, bringing skill and passion to our efforts.

McKee Homes, you are always welcome—come back anytime! Together, we are building more than houses; we are building hope, stability, and brighter futures.

No prior experience is needed—just a willingness to help and a heart for service. Join us today and see how you can make a difference. Together, we can build more than houses—we can build hope, stability, and brighter futures.

It's a fun opportunity to meet like-minded friends who support affordable housing. Great staff, flexible hours! Join us for our monthly Volunteer Session on Thursday, April 17th at 5:00 pm, to learn about Habitat's volunteer opportunities. Whether you enjoy the outdoors and hands-on construction or working in the ReStore, we can custom-fit an experience that you will find rewarding and fun! We know volunteer opportunities are abundant in Moore County. We strive to make your time a rewarding and beneficial experience at Sandhills Habitat.

Habitat Board Members

OFFICERS 

Dr. Fallon Brewington, Chair Tim Dwyer, Vice Chair

Lisa Fagan, Secretary

Larry Smith Treasurer

Amie Fraley, Executive Director

DIRECTORS

Tavares Bostic

Sally Brown 

Daphne Dudley

Karen Dulmage

Ted Esparza

Fran Grandinetti

Jim Hart

Robert Jackson

Karen Reese May

Helen Probst Mills

Kayla Prestwood

Sue Ralston 

Jill Saunders

Diane Wilson

Be sure to follow the new ReStore Facebook page

to learn about the latest inventory and sales

@sandhillsrestore