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There's no better way to support your community than supporting your neighbors in need, especially during the holiday season. We'll feature local charities on Spew throughout this holiday season with links to donate your money, supplies and time.

Give the karmic wheel a spin for today's charity focus:

Habitat for Humanity "Store"

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
505 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma
253.779.8149

The notion that hope begins with picking up a hammer permeates the attitude one meets at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

"I would use the word ‘hope' to describe what we do here," commented Karen Roice, the store's general manager.

But with that hope comes a bit of history.

Karen Roice

Many individuals know of the Habitat for Humanity program.  Former president Jimmy Carter highlighted the program during the mid-1980s due to his volunteer work in building houses for families which otherwise could not afford to own a home without community support.

Simply put, the Habitat for Humanity program is designed to make it possible for low income families in substandard housing to own their own homes, purchased with a combination of "sweat equity," volunteer time and donated materials and labor to lower the costs of constructing a house.

Founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller and his wife, Linda, Habitat for Humanity is a nondenominational Christian ministry the meets the universal need of all people for decent shelter.

The Fullers called their vision "the theology of the hammer."

Since its inception, Habitat has built more than 350,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.75 million people in 3000 communities with safe, decent and affordable shelter.

But in order for the hammer to do the work of building hope for a better future here in the Tacoma/Pierce County area, a Habitat for Humanity Store provides the means of making the dream of home ownership a reality. 

"This is where I was meant to be," continued Roice as she walked through the downtown Tacoma store, talking with some of the volunteer staff members.

"This is where prayer has led me."

The Tacoma Habitat for Humanity Store recycles overstocked, discontinued, new and gently used items donated by manufacturers, stores, contractors and individuals.  These items are sold to the public or used in Habitat for Humanity home construction.

Revenue from sales helps the local Habitat affiliate in support of its home building program.

Not surprisingly, the Tacoma Habitat for Humanity Store has a short but powerful history.

Asked in 2005 to start a store with an eye to funding Habitat for Humanity's construction, Robert Estrada took his 1997 Dodge pick-up truck and a donated 10 by 5 trailer and when to work.

"I liked the challenge of starting the store," he said as he stood in the spacious showroom.

Estrada said the store began in a donated building near St. Joseph Hospital.

"There was no heat, but we used it for about 15 months before moving here," he said.

Robert Estrada

Now located at 505 Puyallup Ave. near the Tacoma Dome, the brightly painted storefront offers customers a wide variety of home improvement products.

"Everything is accepted - including the proverbial kitchen sink," added Roice.

Donated items are cleaned up by volunteers and then sold at drastically reduced prices. The proceeds from the store help the Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity program buy the materials to build decent, affordable housing.

Everything from dining room furniture and lighting fixtures to plumbing, paint and appliance is available.

Funds from the store have helped the local Habitat reach its 2010 goal of building 15 to 20 homes.

As an added benefit, the store's ability to save, sell or reuse unwanted materials keeps unwanted items out of local landfills.

"Every dollar spent here keeps a pound of waste out of local landfills," commented Roice.

As Roice and Estrada went about their duties, volunteer Mac MacKinen put prices on donated items.

"We're kind of a box of chocolates here; you never know what you'll get," said MacKinen with a smile.

The Habitat for Humanity Store is a 501c (3) non-profit organization, so donations are tax deductible.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.  Donations are welcome; pick-up  

Donations are welcome; pick-up is available. And yes, volunteers are always needed.

LINK: Donate to Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity

LINK: Donate materials to the Store

LINK: Volunteer at the Store

Previous Mistledole charities

• Tacoma Community House
• Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children
• Olive Crest
• Emergency Food Network
• Catherine Place
• Mary Bridge Children's Foundation
• United Way/Project:U
• Santa Silvia/Mary Bridge
• Thurston County Food Bank
• Fisher House
• Lakewood Area Shelter Association
• CenterForce
• Tacoma Goodwill
• Rebuilding Tacoma South Sound