I wanted to write about this because it’s an organization that I really like and they do a good job. It’s got ties to Hyde Park and South Tampa also.

For those of you who don’t know, Habitat builds houses and sells them at cost with no interest to low income families. It relies a great deal on volunteers and donations, but it also raises money from it’s store ReStore.
Restore is a 12,000-square-foot warehouse on Hillsborough Avenue, where you can rummage through a lot of building materials - some new, some old - donated by homeowners and builders. Here’s where Hyde Park comes in. Some of these materials came from old houses in South Tampa and Hyde Park. They used to have auctions at houses that were to be demolished or gutted. I don’t know if they still do that, but they do still get donations from such houses. The last time I was there I spent an hour or so looking at historic parts.

A recent story in the St. Pete Times says that donations are down 25 to 30 percent:

The ReStore isn’t getting the donors or buyers it used to, and workers think they’re being hit with a trickle-down effect from poor home sales.

Builders have slowed building, which means they have less excess to donate to places like the ReStore. Homeowners have stopped buying, which means fewer are ridding themselves of used furniture, appliances and the like.

I know there are quite a few homes being built or remodeled in the area. If you or someone know has spare materials, consider donating them to ReStore. Or just head down to ReStore and see what they have. You never know - they might have that door knob that you’ve been looking for. Here’s the contact information:

• 3738 E Hillsborough Avenue
• phone: 237-1978
• www.habitathillsborough.com

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