Avery County Habitat ReStore

07/04/2026

💙 Today was a wonderful reminder of why I love Avery County and our Habitat ReStore family. 💙

A heartfelt thank you to Clark, Edwina, and Bob Tatum for spending part of their day volunteering with us at the ReStore.

Clark stepped right in and was a tremendous help, greeting community members as they walked through our doors, assisting customers by carrying purchases to their vehicles, receiving donations, helping clean, sort, price, and stock merchandise on our sales floor, and even taking the time to learn how we use the register, pricing gun, and our pricing process. His willingness to learn and jump in wherever he was needed made a real difference today.

Edwina and Bob were just as welcoming, greeting our customers with warm smiles and getting a firsthand look at everything that goes into operating the ReStore. Bob also graciously stepped in for a couple of hours so Clark could keep his healthy routine and make it to the YMCA. I absolutely love that. Taking care of yourself is important, and it says so much about this family's support for one another that they worked together to make both volunteering and wellness a priority.

I'd also like to recognize Eli, our incredible 13-year-old volunteer. 👏 Eli continues to amaze us with his maturity, responsibility, kindness, and eagerness to learn. Watching members of our community invest their time in encouraging young people like Eli is exactly how we build the next generation of servant leaders.

There is something truly beautiful about living in Avery County. ❤️ Time and time again, our neighbors show up for one another, not because they have to, but because that's simply who they are.

This is what the Habitat ReStore is all about. 🛠️💙

Helping our neighbors.
Building community.
Investing in the next generation.
And proving that when people come together, incredible things happen.

Thank you, Tatum family, for sharing your time, your hearts, and your servant spirit with us today. We are so grateful to have you as part of the Habitat family.
🏡💙

07/03/2026

🇺🇸 Yes, we're OPEN on the Fourth of July! 🇺🇸

If you're out enjoying the holiday, stop by the Avery County Habitat for Humanity ReStore!

Whether you're hunting for a great bargain, looking for unique treasures, or dropping off a donation, we'd love to see you.

🛍️ Saturday, July 4
🕙 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Every purchase and every donation helps Habitat for Humanity build safe, affordable housing right here in Avery County. Thank you for supporting your local community while celebrating Independence Day!

Have a safe, happy, and blessed Fourth of July! ❤️🤍💙

06/30/2026

💙 Community is at its best when people step up simply because they care.

Around here, one of the best things about living in Avery County is that neighbors still show up for one another.

Yesterday, an anonymous community member, who owns a local IT business, volunteered his time and expertise to help us tackle a major IT project at the Avery County Habitat for Humanity ReStore. It was one of those behind-the-scenes jobs that most people will never see, but it makes a tremendous difference in how we serve our community every day.

He didn't ask for recognition. He simply saw a need and stepped in to help.

That kind of generosity is what makes this community so special. Every hour volunteered, every skill shared, and every act of kindness helps us stretch our resources a little further so we can focus on our mission of building safe, affordable housing and strengthening Avery County.

To our anonymous volunteer, thank you. Your willingness to give back reminds us that Habitat is about so much more than building houses. It's about neighbors helping neighbors, and people using their unique gifts to make our community a better place.

We are truly grateful for your kindness and support. 💙🏡

06/26/2026

✨ The Magic Happens After Closing Time ✨

When the doors closed at the ReStore, the work didn't stop.

A very special thank you to Chaz James, her daughter Oak, and Amy Simcox for generously giving their personal time after hours to help transform our sales floor.

Together, they rearranged furniture, created inviting displays, and added beautiful decorative touches that make the ReStore feel more like home. Their creativity, vision, and hard work help every customer imagine the potential in each piece that comes through our doors.

One of the things I love most about our community is that so many people are willing to quietly step in and help without asking for recognition. Chaz, Oak, and Amy did exactly that. They saw a need, rolled up their sleeves, and gave their evening to help create a ReStore our community can be proud of.

Chaz brings an eye for detail from her work as a construction project manager, while Oak and Amy added their own creativity and energy to the project. Together, they created warm, welcoming spaces that inspire shoppers and help every donation shine.

Every beautifully staged room tells a story.
Every thoughtfully placed decoration helps a customer envision a piece in their own home. And every purchase made at the ReStore helps Avery County Habitat for Humanity build and repair homes for families right here in our community.

Thank you, Chaz, Oak, and Amy, for sharing your time, your talents, and your hearts. Your fingerprints are all over the ReStore, and because of you, it's becoming a place that feels just as welcoming as the mission behind it.

❤️ "Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they simply have the heart."

06/26/2026

💚 Community in Action. This is What Hope Looks Like. 💚

This week has been one we’ll never forget.

A tremendous thank you to Camp Linn Haven for spending the week serving alongside Avery County Habitat for Humanity. Their incredible volunteers cleaned, organized, painted, pressure washed, and completed multiple dump runs at the ReStore, helping us continue transforming it into a welcoming place for our community.

Yesterday, the team split into two groups. While one group continued working at the ReStore, the other traveled to Milford Meadows, one of our Habitat communities, where they repaired a gravel driveway and replaced a window for a Habitat homeowner.

Our week was made even more special by the unexpected kindness of others.

While out in the community, I met the leader of a volunteer group from Virginia that was serving local nonprofits throughout Avery County. After we were able to help her team, she generously sent volunteers to work alongside Camp Linn Haven the very next day.

We were also honored to welcome Avery High School Football players through our growing partnership with Appalachia Service Project. These outstanding young men helped build a home for a community member whose home was devastated by Hurricane Helene.

Our gratitude also goes to one dedicated Avery County JROTC cadet, who volunteered with us on Thursday and continues to represent the spirit of service so well.

And sometimes, kindness arrives when you least expect it.

A community member stopped by the ReStore, simply asked, “Is there anything I can do to help?” Before long, he was mowing the grass and making our property look even more welcoming for everyone who visits.

This week reminded us that building stronger communities isn’t just about building homes. It’s about people choosing to show up for one another.

“Individually, we can do so little. Together, we can do so much.” — Helen Keller

To every volunteer, every supporter, and every person who has given their time, energy, and heart—thank you. Because of you, homes are being repaired, families are being served, and hope is growing right here in Avery County.

❤️ Together, we’re building homes, strengthening communities, and reminding one another that when we come together, anything is possible.

06/22/2026

06/21/2026

🍖🔥 Volunteer Spotlight: Techno 🔥🍖

One of the things that makes Habitat for Humanity special is the people who quietly step up and serve others without asking for recognition.

This week, Techno did exactly that.

Knowing we had a large group of volunteers working at the ReStore, Techno generously donated his time and talent to prepare an incredible meal for everyone. He spent hours smoking two Boston butts weighing a combined 22 pounds, creating some of the best Piedmont-style pulled pork many of us have ever tasted.

The pulled pork was served alongside homemade macaroni and cheese, and the response was unanimous: it was absolutely delicious. Volunteers spent lunch talking about the food almost as much as they talked about the work that had been accomplished that morning.

What I love most is that the generosity didn't stop when lunch was over. The leftovers were sent home with one of our volunteers so she could feed her entire family dinner that evening. That's the kind of community spirit that makes Avery County such a special place.

While our volunteers were helping move furniture, unload trucks, clean, organize, and prepare the ReStore for the community, Techno was serving in his own way by making sure everyone felt welcomed, appreciated, and cared for.

Acts of service come in many forms, and this was a perfect example of that.
Techno, thank you for your generosity, your hard work, and for creating a meal that brought people together and continued blessing others even after the day was done.

We are grateful for you and everything you do for Habitat for Humanity of Avery County.