Habitat for Humanity ReStore open for business

Sussex County Habitat for Humanity ReStore reopened June 6 with revised hours of operation from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday.

Shoppers were excited to be back to shop and upon entering the store, all were wearing face masks and cooperating with new safety guidelines of social distancing.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the ReStore was closed for more than two and a half months. All ReStore sales directly fund the work of Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, and the closure had a direct impact on the organization, creating a fundraising gap of more than $75,000.

As soon as Phase 1 of the governor’s reopening plan launched, managers and staff at the ReStore worked diligently to prepare the store within the new state protocols. Safety updates include extra cleaning procedures, new foot traffic patterns to improve social distancing throughout the store, limited customer occupancy, and mandatory face masks. Face masks are available for purchase for those who don’t have one. Complimentary donation pickup will soon resume with scheduled curbside, no-contact transfers.

“We can’t wait to see more of our family of volunteers and customers,” said Cathy Basenese, manager of the Lewes ReStore on Route 9. Assistant Manager Will Farrell said, “We’re excited to get back to the business of seeing our regulars, meeting new folks and building Habitat homes through the sales of donated items.”

Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live, and every donation and purchase from the ReStore helps make that vision a reality for Sussex families.

For more information, go to www.sussexcountyhabitat.org.