The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

When was the last time you helped make the dream of homeownership possible for a family or helped someone build their own home? Did you know you can do that without lifting a board or pounding a nail?

Sisters Habitat for Humanity offers community members the opportunity to help working families become homeowners by volunteering their time at the ReStore and/or the Thrift Store.

These two stores are successful because of the quantity of the donations and the quality of people who are willing to volunteer their time to help others. People know that the money raised through these stores stays here and benefits the community as a whole.

However, volunteers come and go, and summers are particularly busy for folks so the organization needs to make an occasional plea to old volunteers who find they have some extra time on their hands and new volunteers who are looking to give back or pay it forward - or just want a heart-warming thing to do.

"We are desperate for summer help," said Thrift Store Manager Lenora Fitzgerald. "Donations are pouring in and we need sorters, especially on Saturdays. The beauty section and the toy section need someone's loving touch to keep displays neat and shelves filled."

Habitat's ReStore has just undergone some changes and a makeover. The doors closed over a weekend and a group of volunteers converged and rearranged the floor space so that there is more room to process incoming items and an improved flow of furniture and heavy items throughout the store.

Volunteers are needed to help with sorting, cleaning, pricing, stocking, and cashiering. Someone is needed to help the driver with pickups and deliveries on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This volunteer needs to be able to help lift heavy furniture on and off the truck. They also need someone to mow the lawn, trim shrubs, pull weeds, sweep the driveway or shovel snow as needed, and a jack-of-all trades who can help load and unload, rearrange furniture on the floor and help keep things flowing.

This could be one or several people each doing a share - a few hours here, a few hours there.

At both stores, volunteers will be trained and you can choose your own days and shifts (Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m.) - or just come in for a few hours on days you can or be on call to fill an empty shift. You can choose to do the jobs you are comfortable doing.

"It would be a big help to find people who can work the register on Mondays and Saturdays, both shifts," ReStore Manager Robin Tawney said. "Our volunteers are the greatest and we are grateful for the support we receive from the community."

For information about the next orientation and training, contact Volunteer and Family Services Manager Marie Clasen at [email protected]