Date: March 26, 2008

From: Habitat for Humanity – Lima Area, Inc.

Lavon J. Welty, Executive Director

Phone: 419-222-4937

Habitat for Humanity-Lima Area, Inc. Executive Director, Lavon J. Welty announced today that the affiliate has entered into an agreement with Esther Cary of Cary Properties, Inc. to lease their building at 123 E. Wayne St., in downtown Lima. The building was last occupied by the West Ohio Food Bank. With four floors and a basement—a total of 50,000 square feet—the lease is a huge step forward in the life of the affiliate giving it a centralized location for the first time in its 16 years of operation. Leasing a building this size was made possible by extremely favorable terms by Cary Properties, Inc.

Leasing the 123 E. Wayne building will enable the fulfillment of a dream of affiliate leaders to open what has become known across the Habitat world as a "ReStore". Over the past six months a task force led by local realtor and Habitat Board Member Charles Eichelberger has been laying the groundwork for this venture. Others serving on the task force were Douglas Stemen, William Giffin, and Walter Kinsey. Eichelberger will also serve as coordinator of the ReStore until staffing needs are clarified.

A ReStore is an outlet in which a Habitat for Humanity sells overstocked, discontinued, new and used building materials, appliances, tools, wood furniture, hardware and other items donated by manufacturers, stores, contractors and

individuals. A ReStore’s inventory is made up of donated items that are then sold to the public at significantly reduced prices. The funds raised by these sales help the affiliate finance its ministry of building simple, decent and affordable homes in the Lima—Allen County area.

A ReStore benefits the community as the proceeds help fund the building of houses in the area. The ReStore provides bargains for home improvement. All items are sold at a substantial discount to the general public. The ReStore sells items that might otherwise have filled our local landfills. By recycling these items, the ReStore helps keep unnecessary landfill waste to a minimum.

The ReStore accepts donations of and sells the following items: lumber/plywood, wood trim and flooring, roofing materials, drywall (4 ft. sheet min.), siding, hand and power tools, lighting fixtures, doors, windows, cabinets, paint, bathroom fixtures, kitchen fixtures, appliances, new carpeting and rugs, tile, vinyl flooring, and wood furniture.

The ReStore will begin accepting donations after April 1. To donate items, please check the list of items accepted. If you have items to donate, please call Habitat for Humanity at 419-222-4937 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to arrange for drop off or pick up. Cash donations are also need to help fund the start-up of the ReStore.

As with its many other activities, volunteers will be needed in the ReStore as customer service assistants, donation coordinators, people to move stock around, drivers to pick up donations, organizers, cleaners and other areas as needed. Let Habitat for Humanity know of your interest by calling 419-222-4937 or by e-mail to habitat@wcoil.com to volunteer and get further information.

June 1 is the anticipated date for opening the ReStore. Watch for further announcements in the media and on the affiliate’s website www.habitatlima.org.

It is anticipated that this building will become the hub of Habitat activities in Lima and Allen County. Plans are also underway to move the affiliate offices to the 123 E. Wayne building from their current location at the Market St. Presbyterian Church. The space in the church has been generously offered the past 10 years at no cost. As the affiliate has grown over the years the offices have become inadequate for its needs.

Another important function of the building will be a centralized storage facility for building materials used in the affiliate’s house building program.. Storage for these materials has been scattered in various places the past several years. Roger Wright of Otis Wright and Sons Trucking, Inc. has been providing a semi-trailer and Allen Metropolitan Housing loaned the affiliate a small warehouse building. Both graciously provided the services at no cost to the affiliate.

Other supplies were stored elsewhere. Such scattered locations made keeping an inventory difficult. Large rooms in the 123 E. Wayne building will provide space to keep a clearer grasp on what is on hand. The space will also enable the affiliate to receive donations of larger quantities of materials and supplies often donated by businesses locally and elsewhere needing to reduce their inventory.

The affiliate is delighted to bring new life and activity to this older but solid structure as it centralizes its operations. Such a move can only help the affiliate grow its efforts to enable homeownership to individuals and families who would otherwise be unable to do own their own house. Leaders are also delighted to "recycle" a building that has been unused for several years now.

For further information contact: Lavon Welty, Habitat Executive Director at 419-222-4937 or Chuck Eichelberger, ReStore Coordinator at 419-234-7903.