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SALEM - Area residents looking for a deal on home improvement items, such as furniture, or wanting to recycle old building products after remodeling can do both at the ReStore and help Habitat for Humanity at the same time.

Habitat for Humanity of Columbiana County will open its own discount home improvement and building supply center at 9 a.m. Saturday at 1285B Pidgeon Road, Salem, known as the ReStore. The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

According to the ReStore fact sheet, the idea to resell used building materials, furniture and other household items to raise money for Habitat for Humanity came in 1992 in Austin, Texas with the first ReStore. More than 500 ReStores are open nationwide now, all operated by local Habitat for Humanity entities as a means to raise funds for projects and recycle used products.

ReStore committee member Mickey Weaver credited Habitat board member Richard Sekely and his wife Lindia Sekely, fellow ReStore committee member, with starting the research about ReStores and encouraging the local board to

open a local ReStore.

She praised their commitment to Habitat, adding "they wanted to be able to do more."

Salem ReStore manager Richard Lobdell, the only paid employee, said volunteers help out with cleaning, sorting, pricing and selling of the donated items which can vary from doors, lights and bathroom fixtures to couches, tables and appliances.

The store accepts cash, checks or credit cards for purchases offered at deep discounts. Donors can receive a tax deductible certificate based on resale of items. A homeowner updating their kitchen can donate what's being replaced, including cabinets, counter tops and sinks.

Weaver said "it's really a wonderful two-way street," noting how the process is good for the environment and good for Habitat. Everyone wins because the customer gets a deal, the donor gets a tax deduction, Habitat gets funding for building projects and the environment gets products recycled instead of sitting in landfills.

Wednesday will be the normal dropoff/pickup day for donations, but Lobdell said anyone interested in making a donation should call first at 330-337-4808. The list of acceptable donated items includes: flooring/carpeting; plumbing fixtures; roofing; doors with frames; lumber/trim/plywood; cabinets/counter tops; hardware; appliances/furnaces; tile/brick (grout and mortar); general household items, such as furniture; garden/lawn/patio items and related tools; and tools.

The following items will not be accepted: broken items or items in non-working condition; garage doors; mattresses; musical instruments; door slabs; books; toys; clothing; pesticides; unframed glass; paint thinner; and paint.

The fact sheet said ReStore products can come from individuals from estate sales, leftovers from renovation projects or used building materials, and from building suppliers or retailers and contractors donating "surplus building materials, discontinued products, overstocks, custom orders and closeout inventory."

The store will include applications for volunteers who want to help at the store.

Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreiersalemnews.net