Habitat and DLT partner on restoration

The Deschutes Land Trust and Sisters Habitat for Humanity have partnered up to recycle household goods and building supplies for the benefit of local community members. The recycled items came from an old home DLT is in the process of removing from its Camp Polk Meadow Preserve near Sisters.

Land Trust volunteers helped remove household goods last week, taking washers, dryers, recreational items and more to the Habitat ReStore in Sisters. Habitat volunteers returned later last week to remove and salvage all reusable windows, doors, timbers, and other building supplies from the homesite. The total donation was valued at over $1,000.

"The Land Trust always looks for ways to work with other community organizations. We were very happy to donate these items to Sisters Habitat, helping them with their affordable housing mission and keep re-useable items out of the landfill," said Brad Chalfant, the Land Trust's executive director. 

ReStore manager Robin Tawney concurred: "We were thrilled that the Land Trust thought of Sisters Habitat when it came time to recycle the items from the preserve. Together we were able to keep things out of the landfill and raise funds for building homes in Sisters. This was a true win-win for us all." 

Camp Polk Meadow Preserve is a 151-acre wildlife preserve on Whychus Creek, northeast of Sisters, which has been the focus of efforts to restore habitat for the historic return of salmon and steelhead. To further restore the meadow, DLT acquired a homesite and an additional six acres of the meadow in 2011 from Elmer and Nancy Pond. Since then DLT has been busy developing restoration plans for the site. The home, garage and other structures will be removed later this fall as wetland and meadow restoration is initiated.

Sisters Habitat for Humanity is a faith-based, nonprofit organization that recruits and leads a diverse and dedicated corps of volunteers to build and/or renovate affordable homes for qualified individuals. Funds to accomplish this mission are generated through mortgages, Thrift and ReStore operations, donations, grants and fundraising activities. Sisters Habitat has provided homes for 48 families since 1991.

For more information on Deschutes Land Trust call 541-330-0017 or visit www.deschuteslandtrust.org.