Rethinking its use

In a short two years at the Greenville, NC ReStore, I have come to understand that the ReStore offers unique challenges and opportunities to its employees. Within the realm of challenges lies an eclectic collection of retail successes, an array of customer experiences and an ever changing store filled daily with newly donated merchandise. While we always have the task of rethinking our daily procedures, rethinking the use of unwanted items is also extremely valuable.

In recent months, we have had the creative pleasure to rethink the use of scrap materials. For many of our shoppers, we offer items that can be used creatively, but for others, we have found that bringing that creativity alive can be of great value. Sometimes it’s hard to see the potential in an item until someone shows you.

With the help of Pinterest, staff and volunteers, we have designed and built unique custom coffee tables using only scrap material. Some of these items would have gone directly to the landfill, but instead we were able to turn them into a new and unique piece that could also spark the imagination of our shoppers.

For example, our most recent project (pictured) was designed and built by myself, Neil Klinedinst, and Dylon Hutchinson. Using Pinterest as a springboard for ideas, a quick inventory of scrap items we found for the project include:

• a set of couch legs
• cabinet doors
• one interior door, that was deemed non repairable and earmarked for the landfill 
• one pallet

From these items we created this one of a kind coffee table.

The couch legs provide a sturdy foundation for this oversized unit while the pallet wood, which can be easily cut from its original form using a jig saw, provides a country style inlay. The door was cut using a circular saw and its hardware was left in place. The final piece to this project was the use of two glass cabinet doors that allow the buyer two access points. Uses for this table are vast and it creates a sense of repurposing!

The ReStore allows our customers an opportunity to purchase and reuse many items, but with some creativity and a bit of elbow grease, we can rethink the use of many more items and decrease our trips to the landfill by selling the same items that were once earmarked for destruction. So remember, before letting it go to waste, rethink its use!

Neil Kliendinst is the ReStore Manager for Habitat for Humanity of Pitt County, North Carolina.