Habitat For Humanity ReStore and Dorcas Ministries Celebrate Grand Opening

Story and photo by Leslie Huffman

Cary, NC – Dorcas Ministries and Wake Habitat for Humanity ReStore, two well known service organizations in Wake County, will be celebrating a Grand Opening together. This Saturday, October 1 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. the pair of non-profits take up residence at Cary Plaza, 187 High House Road.

Dorcas Ministries

The Dorcas Thrift Shop and Ministries provide emergency financial assistance by paying rent and electric bills for those in need.  The Thrift Shop has a food pantry and nutrition services, offers child care assistance, literacy scholarships, and job hunting assistance. And all these services are provided for low-income and needy families right here in Cary.

The revenue generated by the Thrift Shop provides 85% of all the income needed to keep services available to folks in crisis. The Dorcas Thrift Shop generates an annual revenue of almost $600,000 which is reinvested into the neediest members of our community.

 “The Dorcas Shop was outgrowing its space in 2008 when the board of directors embarked on a feasibility study and decided to look for a larger property, with the vision to eventually create a non-profit center,” said Howard Manning, Executive Director of Dorcas Ministries, of the bold move.

At the new Cary Plaza Center, the Thrift Shop retail space will double. Within the first year of occupancy, Dorcas forecasts a 25% increase in sales revenue bringing the annual income from the shop to $750,000.

The New Cary Habitat for Humanity ReStore

The Habitat Wake ReStore accepts donations of new and used building materials from companies and individuals to sell at discounted prices. The ReStore generates revenue to build new Habitat homes in Wake County.

“In late winter, the Habitat for Humanity of Wake County Executive Director, Kevin Campbell, began conversations with us about the possibility of opening a Habitat ReStore in Cary. The fit was perfect,” said Manning, noting that sometimes people drop off items at Dorcas that are more fitting for Habitat and vice versa.  “Now folks will have one-stop drop-off and one-stop shopping.”

The ReStore accepts donations of usable and structurally-sound building materials.  All donations are tax-deductible.

The Grand Opening Activities

The Grand Opening, a public event, will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday with a Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting. During the Grand Opening Celebration, guests who drop off items for resale at either store will be entered into a raffle for prizes.

The Dorcas Shop is accepting the following donations:

• Clothing & shoes for for all ages
• Small household appliances like lamps, clocks, toasters & coffee makers
• Housewares like dishes, glasses, pots & pans, flatware, & serving pieces
• Furniture like sofas, chairs, tables, bookcases and dressers & bed-frames
• Craft items like fabric, yarn, sewing patterns
• Linens such as sheets, blankets, curtains
• Toys, Jewelry & Holiday items

The Habitat ReStore accepts new and used items including:

• Appliances (less than 5 years old)
• New & gently used non-upholstered furniture
• Non-brassy light fixtures and ceiling fans
• Bath vanity cabinets, pedestal sinks & bath fixtures
• Kitchen cabinets (less than 10 years old)
• Complete vinyl windows
• Exterior doors
• Architectural items like vintage doors, fireplace mantles, antique hardware
• New HVAC equipment

Other Activities Include:

• Fifth Third Bank will be on-hand to check your credit score and teach you how to improve your credit rating.
• The Cary Fire Department will be teaching fire safety education
• Plenty of shopping!
• Volunteer opportunities
• Food
• Face painting
• Entertainment
• And raffle prizes!

Visit the Non-Profit Page

For links to more than 40 Cary service non-profits, visit the CaryCitizen Non-Profits Page.

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Events on CaryCitizen are sponsored in part by Great Harvest Bread on Maynard Road in Cary.