Celebrate Earth Day With ReStore

We’re back with another edition of Good News Tues to spread a little joy from our Habitat family to yours. We’re all in this together. Here’s hoping this brings a little light to your day. 

Celebrate Earth Day With ReStore

51 years ago, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson sparked a bi-partisan movement to address the environmental challenges facing our planet. The first ‘Earth Day’ was launched in 1970 with resounding results to follow including the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, passage of the Clean Water Act, and more in just the first few years after its establishment. Each year, April 22nd is marked as a day to bring our collective voices and actions together to impact the environment. At Milwaukee Habitat, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than opening our newest ReStore in Franklin.

While ReStore’s primary goal is to serve as a crucial fundraising arm for Habitat’s mission, parallel to that effort is ReStore’s focus on the reuse of home furnishings and building supplies. In the US alone, roughly 40 percent of landfill waste is comprised of building materials. Milwaukee’s ReStores provide an outlet for individuals and businesses with excess materials than can be reused instead of thrown away.

Each year, Milwaukee’s ReStores divert more than 6 million pounds of material from local landfills thanks to generous donors like you. Those items are resold to the public, generating funds to make homeownership accessible for local low-to-moderate income families.

On Friday, we cut the ribbon on Habitat’s newest ReStore in Franklin (take a 1-minute virtual tour!) and were met with a resounding welcome. Hundreds lined up to give the freshly stocked donated items a second life. On Friday alone, more than $25,000 worth of donated items in ReStore Franklin found a new home! It’s truly a win-win-win. Reusable items get a second life, folks get a great deal on quality items, and the proceeds benefit our work to build safe, affordable homes in the community.
You can celebrate Earth Day by donating your reusable items to ReStore! Franklin’s new drive-thru donation center is now open, so bring along those gently used items you no longer need. Free pickup service is also available for large donations. We even have a Deconstruction Services team who salvages kitchens and more from remodeling and demolition projects.

ReStore Franklin is located at 6939 S Riverwood Blvd, Franklin in the former Gander Mountain off of South 27th Street near Lowe’s and Goodwill. Or stop by our two other stores/donation centers in Wauwatosa and Greenfield.
ReStore locations are open:

• Tuesdays-Fridays: 10am-6pm
• Saturdays: 10am-4pm

Happy Earth Day!