ReStore’s Upcycle Challenge is a great chance for you to flex your creative muscles, show off your DIY skills, and take part in ReStore’s green mission.

Come into the ReStore and purchase items to upcycle and renovate. Post pictures to our our Facebook event page as you work, and stay tuned for the announcement of our winners in April. The winner will receive a $200 credit to the ReStore. After the contest ends, participants can donate their project to the ReStore to help fund affordable housing in Linn and Benton Counties, or keep it for themself.

Participants can share as many photos of their process as they’d like, detailing any steps taken as part of the makeover! For those without Facebook, photos can be sent to community@cvhabitat.org with the subject line “Upcycle Challenge”.

We can’t wait to see the creativity of the ReStore community!

Join us May 5th for our next Women Build class!

We will implement tools and techniques learned in previous classes to assemble a square planter. Participants can take home their project for finishing. Registration fee covers cost of materials.

Registration is required and can be done here: cvhabitat.org/wbclass

In February, Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity proudly celebrated the home dedication for Omar and his son—marking the culmination of a remarkable journey and the beginning of a new chapter.

Originally from Rwanda, Omar arrived in Cedar Rapids in 2019. Starting over in a new country without knowing English, he faced many challenges, including unstable housing and limited space for his growing family.

Through hard work, perseverance, and his partnership with Habitat, Omar has now achieved his dream of homeownership. His new home offers stability, opportunity, and something especially meaningful—a place where his son can have a room of his own and a yard to play in.

Omar often speaks about how proud he is to build a future here and how excited he is to one day call his parents back in Rwanda to tell them he has made it. With the dedication of his new home, that dream has truly taken shape.

The cold couldn’t dampen the excitement as we gathered for the ground blessing of our upcoming Faith Build home with future homeowners Falcao and Tatiana.

Surrounded by faith partners, volunteers, and supporters of Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity, the ceremony marked the beginning of a journey toward a safe and stable place to call home.

Moments like these remind us that when people come together in service and faith, incredible things can happen. We look forward to seeing this home take shape in the months ahead.

Lynette first volunteered with Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity in 2018 when a friend asked for her input making yard art out of fan blades found at the ReStore. This opportunity to use her creativity and the experience of volunteering kept Lynette coming back. Today she spends most of her time in the ReStore's electrical testing room.

"It has really grown on me. There's the opportunity to do something completely different. I also really appreciate the friendships I have been able to develop here."

If you would like to donate your time and talent by volunteering with Habitat, please contact Kelly Murphy at kelly.murphy@cvhabitat.org or 319.366.4485, ext. 104.

2280 C St. SW in Cedar Rapids

Thank you to the volunteer groups that worked on this project in February:

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church

St. Pius X Catholic Church

1220 C St. SW in Cedar Rapids

Thank you to the partnering organizations who participated in the Students Building Community internship program in February:

A Tech Freeman Systems

The Top Shop

Ty-Co Painting

Ram Plumbing

Equal Housing Opportunity Statement: We're pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.