The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

A grand opening celebration is scheduled at Sisters Habitat for Humanity’s new Thrift Store at 211 E. Cascade Ave., for Saturday, April 27.

The celebration will start at 9 a.m. at the former building, 141 W. Main Ave., to honor the store founders. This will be followed by a procession to the new location for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Volunteers and staff have been working since November revamping the former Sisters Drug and Gift building into a new location for Habitat’s Thrift Store. The retail space includes a large area for clothing, a book corner, toys, housewares and an expanded section for antiques and collectibles.

“The volume of donations has grown tremendously with the population growth of Sisters, and our space and donation drop-off area have been less than ideal for several years. The new location sales floor is more than 5,500 square feet and our sorting and receiving area is 1,800 square feet. The volunteers are very excited to have more space to process donated items,” Habitat Store Director Don Reed said.

In the sorting room, the volunteers will have plenty of room to sort and clean donations. The new sorting room will feature a dishwasher and washer and dryer, plenty of counter space for sorting, an area for the volunteers to take breaks and storage for seasonal items. The store has been updated with an ADA accessible bathroom, and two dressing rooms. During the grand opening celebration there will be time to tour the store and the sorting and receiving area.

Donations will now be accepted at the new location; donations hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The drop-off door is located in the alleyway between the thrift store and Melvin’s Market.

“It’s exciting to see the whole evolution of the Thrift Store,” long-time Habitat volunteer Lois Worcester said. “It started in a little 800-square-foot house on Main Street in 1993.”

Revenue from The Sisters Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store and the ReStore provide more than $250,000 each year for its home building program. The homes are sold at no profit to partner families and financed with affordable mortgages that are issued for 30 years. To date, 66 families have purchased homes from Sisters Habitat for Humanity.

Sisters Habitat also relies on grants, homeowner mortgage payments and cash donations from individuals and businesses to support their work. With the expansion of the Thrift Store, it is projected that sales will grow exponentially. This translates to more affordable homes built each year, while still allowing low-income families and bargain hunters an affordable place to shop for high-quality used merchandise and clothing.

The Sisters Habitat ReStore, selling furniture, lamps, appliances, tools and more, will stay at its current location at 254 W. Adams Ave. The Sisters Habitat board of directors will soon be looking toward a permanent location for the Habitat ReStore.

Sisters Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Those interested in homeownership, home repair or volunteering with Sisters Habitat can visit the website http://www.sistershabitat.org or call the Habitat office at 541-549-1193.