Clark County Habitat for Humanity Store
The Clark County Habitat for Humanity Store, located near Mill Plain Blvd and I-205, has a three-pronged mission. They raise funds for local housing projects, divert usable products from the waste stream, and offer quality products at affordable prices. Since reuse and recycling are embedded in their mission, becoming a certified Clark County Green Business was a natural fit. "We're proud to be helping move environmental and positive human issues forward in our community," said Mark Haley, business relations director for Habitat for Humanity Restores.
On an average day, they accept 60 loads of goods donated by the public that would otherwise end up in the landfill. They take in new and used building materials, furniture, appliances, and home goods, and sell the goods at the store to raise money for Habitat for Humanity projects. Incoming materials are checked over by volunteers to make sure only items sold by the store are accepted, but rather than turn away residents with textiles, toys, etc., they partner with the Arc of SW Washington to offer an onsite collection box for those items too.
Green is part of the big picture of the organization and also finds its way into the details of their operations. Printers are set to print double-sided by default, and they separate rigid plastic for recycling. To be more energy efficient, the store is installing LED outdoor lighting. The Clark County Habitat Store can only run smoothly with the help of many, many volunteer hours. They regularly have projects for groups, so if you and your green team or coworkers are looking to help keep materials out of the landfill and support affordable housing at the same time, contact Craig at craig@pdxrestore.org. You can also support the Clark County Habitat for Humanity Store by donating. Follow this link for more about making a donation: pdxrestore.org/donate.