Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity has announced their team at Vermont’s first Habitat for Humanity ReStore located in Williston. Since opening the store in September 2012, their dedicated staff and volunteers have collected used (and some new) building materials, appliances, furniture, and home goods to resell to the public. The proceeds are then used to build new Habitat homes in northwest Vermont.
“What otherwise would have been thrown away, will now help build new lives for deserving families,” explains Sara Munro, Director of Advancement. “To date, we’ve kept 119,000 pounds of usable materials out of Vermont’s landfills.”
Habitat’s ReStore created 2.5 full time equivalent positions for three professional paid staff. This includes expanding hours for their administrative bookkeeper and two new positions at the ReStore held by: Jonathon Goldhammer, Habitat ReStore Manager: Jonathon joined the Habitat team in June 2012 to launch the ReStore program. He brings extensive knowledge of building trades and retail management through his past positions with Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s Weatherization Program and Bosch Thermotechnology. His entrepreneurial experience as a small business owner has instilled an innovative spirit to this new venture for Habitat. “I enjoy developing strategies and partnerships to implement this new social enterprise,” he says. “More importantly, I am dedicated to the positive environmental and social impact ReStore brings to our communities by turning unwanted materials into funds for quality, energy efficient homes for families.”
Dan Mullin, Habitat ReStore Assistant Manager: A 2012 graduate of Johnson State College, Dan began his service with Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity as a volunteer intern last year. He quickly showed his dedication to Habitat’s mission as their first ReStore Driver before being promoted to ReStore Assistant Manager in December 2012. In addition to working with Habitat, Dan is a volunteer firefighter with Essex Fire and Rescue.
For 29 years, Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity has built or rehabbed 60 homes for local families in need. Working in partnership with low-income families and using volunteer labor as much as possible, they build sturdy but inexpensive houses which are then sold to selected families at cost at no profit and no interest loans. All mortgage payments are made to GMHfH and contribute to a revolving fund to help build more homes. Over the past two years, GMHfH received national recognition for their Passive House Initiative that built the first modular home to meet Passive Home Standards in the United States.
Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. A non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, they welcome people of all backgrounds to join in to help eliminate poverty housing in Vermont. GMHfH has built homes in Burlington, Charlotte, Huntington, Hinesburg, Milton, Monkton, Winooski, and Williston. They also build homes in Lamoille, Franklin, and Grande Isle Counties in partnership with their affiliate’s chapters in those areas. For more information or to donate or volunteer, visit www.vermonthabitat.org.