Write a commentHabitat for Humanity are on their way to Newry. They are hoping that their new store, their third store in the province after Ballymena and Lisburn, will be up and running by September.
The social enterprise met this week at Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency to discuss their plans for their ReStore premises.
The organisation plan to open a 5000 sq ft premises close to the SuperValu store on the Dublin Road in Newry.
Speaking about the move, Jenny Williams, Chief Executive Habitat for Humanity NI said "We are very excited. We have been looking at least a couple of years. Newry and Derry were the next two places that I really felt we should come to"
Work in over 80 Countries
Habitat for Humanity NI is working towards building a shared future for everyone.
They bring thousands of volunteers together to build homes, communities and hope, in areas impacted by deprivation and the legacy of conflict in NI and around the world.
They work on the ground in 80 countries, using volunteers, donated supplies and building materials to keep costs low.
The organisation provide training and volunteer opportunities for all backgrounds and abilities, including people with learning difficulties, mental health challenges or young people caught up in the justice system. Ms Williams explained "We are willing to work with everybody. We are looking for individuals, organisations, we need lots of volunteers. We need volunteers that can be buddies to support the people who need support. It's a great working environment where people really enjoy coming and definitely there is that sense of doing something together"
Newry Support
Speaking about local support they already have Jenny Williams added "Haldane Fisher have been amazing, they have chosen to partner with us this year, and thats been really amazing, they're the people that have given us lots of doors. The other people that we have had is Clanrye who have come down to Lisburn and volunteered with us and we are hoping that there will be opportunities to work together with them." The organisation also work with CTS Projects, Warrenpoint and Murdock Builders Merchants have supported them via their Lisburn premises.
Waht they Need
ReStore enables local families to improve their homes at low cost. The store will stock a wide range of new and used DIY and home improvement materials at 50-75% lower than normal retail price.
You can donate building materials, bathrooms and plumbing, hardware and tools, appliances, kitchens, flooring, lighting and electrical items such as lamps, fixtures, cable, sockets and switches etc, paint and wallpaper and furniture.
They can't accept things that don't work, hazardous materials, appliances over 10 years old, microwaves and dishwashers over 5 years, single pane windows, garage doors, upholstered furniture or mattresses.
Kitchen Rescue
Habitat for Humanity will have a Kitchen Rescue facility where you can donate your good quality used kitchen and they will provide a service where they remove the kitchens carefully, thus preserving them for resale in their ReStore.
As Chief Executive Jenny Williams points out "We divert so much material from landfill that you couldn't even imagine and we get such amazing things. It is amazing some of the things we get, but inevitably there is somebody for everything!"
Their target is to ensure that low income families have the opportunity to buy items but it's also for bargain hunters out there.
If you want to contact them at present you can contact them via their Lisburn premises on 028 92635635 or email info@habitatni.co.uk
