Hours

• Tuesday-Friday:  10:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

ReStore Location:  

550 W. Elm St., Lima, OH 45801

Click the links below for more information

• Garage Sale Hours (at 123 E. Wayne St.)-- 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Daily through January 28.
• January 24, 10:00 a.m. -- Church Relations Committee -- Habitat Center Offices Committtee Room
• January 31, 5:00 p.m.:  Family Selection Committee Meeting -- Habitat Center offices committee room.
• February 14, 5:00 p.m. -- Board of Directors:  Habitat Center Meeting Room
• February 18, 2012- Saturday - Dedication/Open House -  550 West Elm St. Habitat Center

Exciting First Day!

Customers were standing at the door waiting for staff to open the ReStore at its new location at 550 W. Elm St. at 10:00 a.m. sharp on Wednesday, January 18.  In the picture at right, Kathryn Brunk of Elida is the first customer to enter the ReStore followed by others. 

The first sale was made to Willie Russell of Lima being served by cashier Joyce Roby.  All day long a steady stream of persons came into the ReStore.  Some came to shop having missed shopping at the ReStore the past ten days while the move was being made.  Others admitted to coming out of curiosity to see what we had done to remake the building.  Many expressed surprise at the transformation of a building that is remembered to be a car dealership and then the county welfare office. 

Earlier in the morning Executive Director Lavon Welty called staff and volunteers who had come to do final preparations for opening together for a brief time to reflect on the incredible work that has taken place over the past year.  He thanked those who were there as volunteers as respresentives of all who had come during the past year for the hundreds of hours donated to help make the transformation possible.  He had special words of appreciation for the affiliate staff--construction managers and ReStore staff--for the leadership they provided through it all.  He called all to recommit themselves to the challenge that is Habitat's in assisting those living in unacceptable substandard housing circumstances to be able to live in more healthy, decent homes.

 Finally he closed with a prayer of thanksiving for God's guidance throughout the entire project and God's presence with all who participated.  You can find this prayer on the 550 W. Elm St. page along with additional pictures of the ReStore as it looked on opening day.  (Click here to go to the prayer and pictures)

Habitat Center on Elm Set to Go January 18

Approval to occupy has been granted; the move has gone very well; and all (at least almost all!) things will be in place ready for the doors to open on January 18 at the renovated building that will be the Habitat for Humanity-Lima Area, Inc.headquaters for many years to come. 

The ReStore will open its doors at 10:00 a.m. ready to serve the public again.  Customers will find all the items displayed on one floor in well-marked sections.

The move has gone as well as could be expected.  The weather could not have have been better wiht four exceptionally nice days for Janaury early in the week before the season's first significant snow hit.  Most of all Habitat staff are extremely grateful for the many volunteers who responded to our call for help. Some came nearly every day of the week while others only for a day.  One said he heard the call for volunteers not knowing what the ReStore really was and was amazed to see everything that was in the store.  He worked the entire week!

Not everything was taken to the new store.  Items that have not sold--some since the ReStore's opening--were left at the 123 Building for a GARAGE SALE also begining January 18 at 11:00 a.m.  Anything that is not sold by January 28 will be deposited in a dumpster.  Most any offer will be accpeted. 

The Executive Director's office was moved into the office area of the 550 W. Elm St. building on Thursday--before the snow fell that evening.  Executive Director Lavon Welty is unpacking and will be ready to meet for work also by the 18th.  Homeland Technology Group is busy fine-tuning the communications/security system that they have installed in the building.  Phone numbers will remain the same but e-mail addresses will need to be changed.   A new fax number will also be assigned.

Keep watching this website for aditoinal changes.  More importantly stop in--if not to buy--then just to see what we have done to make this former auto dealership / former welfare offices / dreamed-of church into a space that is absolutely beautiful.  And, mark your calendars for Feburary 18, 11:00 a.m. for the dedication of the building to the God's work of enabling individuals and families to enjoy safe, secure, simple, decent housing.

 Inspectors give nod toward approval

A walk through by city inspectors on Wednesday, January 5, with construction staff found a few minor adjustments to be made but the end result was a "thmbs up" for full occupancy by Wednesday, Janaury 11 providing the sprinkler system is fully operational.  In that regard, installers are confident that the sprinklers will be operatonal by that time as required.  The move is on!  The end of the long renovation process is in sight! 

Moving Okayed...VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Lima City authorities have given permission to begin moving inventory into our new building at 550 W. Elm St.  And, on top of that, our contractors have committed themselves to finish their work so that we can open to the public on January 18 at 10:00 a.m. 

With this now in hand, WE NEED VOLUNTEERS to help make the move into our new digs. As we make the move:

• the ReStore at 123 E. Wayne St. will be closing the week of January 9-14 to move all the inventory to 550 W. Elm St.
•  all new donations are now being taken to the 550 W. Elm St. Building
• items that have been in stock for months will be left at 123 W. Wayne St. for a "garage sale" the rest of the month of January (or until nothing is left to sell).
• the first day the ReStore will be open at 550 W. Elm St. is Wednesday, January 18 at 10:00 a.m.
• beginning the week of January 23 the ReStore hours will be expanded to include Tuesdays, also 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• a formal dedication ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.  Our Grand Opening will begin that day and extend throughout the following week.  Watch for additional details as planning solidifies.

Voolunteers are needed beginning immediately throughout the move as well as longer term to help staff the ReStore.  If can give a couple hours, a day or two or three, or even more time, please call the ReStore office at (419) 222-4257 or Karen Wagner at (419) 230-9868 or the affiilate office at (419) 222-4937.

Moving Dates Projected

With the water line that will pressurize the sprinkler system laid from Spring Stt. to the building, its hook up to the system could be completed by December 30.  With that prospect the final occupancy permit seems ever closer.  So close, in fact, that we are projecting dates for moving from our present location at 123 E. Wayne St. to the 550 W. Elm St. Building. 

Consequently staff are targeting January 9-16 as moving dates for the affiliate offices and ReStore.  The ReStore will be closed January 11-14 with re-opening projected for Wednesday, January 18.

Dedication ceremonies for the new locaton are to take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 18 beginning a week-long Grand Opening Celebration.  Watch for more details as plans are made.

Water Line Project Underway

Employees from Armor Fire Protection and Dave's Excavating began the final major project on the renovation of the 550 West Elm St. building. 

The long-awaited water line from Spring St. to the northeast corner of the building will supply the water needed to pressurize the sprinkler system in the builidng.  When that is finished we will be much closer to being able to secure the occupancy permit that will allow us to move into the building.  Depending on the weather, the line might be in place by the end of the week. 

Swartz Contracting Employees Donate Time

Employees of Swartz Contracting Co. gave our affiliate an early Christmas gift this year.  Ten workers spent four hours on Friday, December 2, eager to help as needed giving their skills to projects at the 550 W. Elm St. building.  They ripped out moldy drywall in restrooms, primed doors in the offices, and put did finish work around the new main entrance to the ReStore sales area. 

Of their work, Construction Manager Andy Chappell-Dick wrote "the crew accomplished a LOT of work this morning, starting and pushing ahead a number of projects that must be completed before our occupancy inspection.  They were prompt, courteous, neat, and their workmanship was excellent.  As project manager, I cannot express enough thanks for their time and your contribution to the mission of Habitat."

It was indeed an wonderful gift supported by the company's owner, Paul Swartz.  It is another example of a response to the call to make Habitat an effective service and ministry in our community.

Lots and Lots of Progress!

In the last month huge changes have been seen in the renovation of the 550 W. Elm St. builidng that will one day serve at the operations center for our affiliate.

We still do not have a date for moving in but the transformation that has taken place is amazing to behold!  In anticipation of moving day staff have begun setting up shelving in the ReStore sales rooms. 

Rebuilding the offices is nearly completed.  However, we still are waiting for the final major project to be completed, the installation of a water line that will pressurize the sprinkler system.  Click here for a progress report on the project.

 Painting Extravaganza Planned

The walls in the largest room in the 550 W. Elm St. building are about ready for paint.  Construction Managers Andy Chappell-Dick and Roger Calvert will have the all the sheet rock up, taped and finished in time for a Painting Extravaganza planned for Saturday, October 15. All who love to paint (and those who may not particularly love it but are willing) are invited to come to the building at 8:00 a.m. donned in paint shirts ready to roll it on the walls.  The paint will be white latex readily washed off with water if some just happens to get on your hands, face, or arms or on the head of the person painting next to you. 

The room to be painted is the largest room in the building--more than 10,000 square feet--and will the main sales space for the ReStore.  The room (pictured above) is huge and has undergone an absolute transformation since the puchase of the bulding last January.  Painting the walls will be another huge step in this process, moving it closer to being ready for occupancy.

Businesses, churches, or clubs are encouraged to form groups to come together.  Individuals coming by themselves are also welcome.  All are encouraged to show up at 8:00 a.m.   Work will go on until the job is finished or 3:00 p.m. whichever comes first.  Please call the Habitat office at 419-222-4937 or email the office at habitat@wcoil.com to tell us how many are coming so we can be prepared with needed supplies.  If you can bring a paint  pan, roller handle and extension, that would be very helpful.  We will supply all the needed rollers.  Lunch will also be provided.