Oregon DEQ awards grant to Forest Grove Habitat for Humanity ReStore
FOREST GROVE, OR (July 22st, 2020) --- Each year the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality provides funding to organizations that are working towards Oregon’s environmental goals. The DEQ’s Materials Management Grant Program web page explains their grant program this way: “The recipients help reduce waste, build capacity for reuse and repair, support responsible recycling, or otherwise advance the 2050 Vision...The contributions and creativity of local communities are vital to achieving the 2050 Vision where resources are conserved, the environment is protected and all live well.” This morning the DEQ announced that The Forest Grove Habitat for Humanity ReStore is one of the grateful 2020 grant recipients. According to the DEQ Award Notice: “The 2020 repair and reuse grant round was highly competitive. We reviewed 54 grant proposals and selected 13 projects totaling $125,000. You can find additional information about successful applications on DEQ’s website at https://www.oregon.gov/deq/mm/Pages/Product-Lifespan-Extension.aspx.
The ReStore plays a significant role in the community green cycle. More than 90% of the furniture, household items, and other goods donated to the ReStore are cleaned, repaired, or upcycled before being re-sold, totaling more than one million pounds of goods each year. By serving as a collection point in collaboration with other agencies, the ReStore also keeps many tons of building materials out of the waste stream each year. For example, as a participant in the Metro Paint Recycling Program, the ReStore processes between 5,000 – 6,000 gallons of recycled paint. Working with Oregon e-Cycles, the ReStore is a drop-off site for electronics recycling. We serve as a collection point for homeless shelters and other agencies.
Proceeds from ReStore fund the mission and programs of West Tuality Habitat for Humanity, to build and repair homes for low-income, veteran, elderly, and disabled persons in western Washington County. The ReStore also supports other local businesses and the newspaper, through its advertising and supply budgets. It provides local jobs and job training. The ReStore positively impacts people and the planet.
Due to the COVID-19 shutdown this spring the ReStore was in a precarious situation. Even after reopening for limited days and hours, the store was painfully short staffed. While most of the staff returned to work, few volunteers did. Grant funds will be used primarily to backfill any pandemic-related staffing shortages, prioritizing the retention of current staff needed for ongoing operations. The store is currently operating on a reduced schedule, open Tuesday – Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. Shoppers and staff follow all CDC, OSHA and government recommendations in order to promote safety for all. Donated items are quarantined, following CDC guidelines, then cleaned prior to resale.
Executive Director of West Tuality Habitat for Humanity, Virginia Ohler, shared her feelings; “We are thrilled to be a recipient of the 2020 DEQ Materials Management Grant. It will be significant in helping us to address the current, unprecedented challenges, and help us to remain afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. This honor also acknowledges the hard work we are doing every day to keep our community green. We will be able to “be here” for the community and keep making a difference. We care about people, we care about the community and we care about the planet.”
