Store FAQ

About the Store
The Habitat Store offers top quality used home furniture, accessories, decorative items and newer small and large appliances.

Across the country there are more than 750 Habitat Stores, retail outlets offering many of the same items as us, some also selling donated usable building materials, all for a fraction of their retail price.

Why is Habitat EKC opening a store?
We are opening a store in order to:
• Increase revenue and support for the East King County Affiliate’s mission and programs
• Increase the visibility of Habitat for Humanity in the community in a positive way
• Advance HFHEKC’s sustainable building program
• Build the Habitat brand by offering unique, satisfying, retail and donation experiences
• Divert tons of usable materials from landfills

The Habitat Store will benefit its community, and in fact, build a strong sense of community solidarity by:
• Developing additional relationships in the building community which translate into support for our building program
• Providing a source of affordable, quality home related products to the community
• Offering opportunities for Habitat volunteers beyond construction activities

How does Habitat East King County benefit from the Habitat Store?
Habitat East King County benefits from the Store in that it is a sustainable effort that provides a diversified revenue stream and strengthens an affiliate’s ability to build affordable houses.

Additionally, the store will offer opportunities for volunteers who would prefer a retail experience to construction. And, it’s very important to Habitat that the Store will empower families who might live in a Habitat home and create hope for them by:
• Offering an alternative opportunity for Habitat families to fulfill sweat equity and/or possibly gain practical job skills as a Store volunteer
• Increasing the visibility of Habitat for Humanity’s program in the community
• Spreading the message of how Habitat is committed to eliminating substandard housing and inspiring change

How will the profits be used? What do Store proceeds benefit?
Revenue from the Store increases funding and builds public support for our mission and programs. Profits will go toward those uses.

Is it the only one of its kind?
No. There are more than 750 around the country including one in South Seattle. Each store offers merchandise that attracts customers from the community it serves.

What are the items you won’t accept? What do you need most?
Our list of Acceptable Donations [on our Donations Page] includes a description of items that we just can’t accept. There are some items we will transfer to a store called “Second Use.” Its inventory is different from the Habitat Store, but we enjoy a close working relationship. And, we’ll take care of getting donations from you to them. Generally, Second Use offers items more often used for construction and rebuilding, or older and perhaps more suitable for use outside a home.

We will continue our relationship with Second Use for the sale of used building material. Our Habitat Store will act as a transfer point for items that we will deliver or Second Use will pick up. Second Use will also continue to offer Deconstruction services on our behalf. Second Use has an agreement on items donated to it through Habitat.

Call us at (425) 641-2643 for more detail on items we can and cannot accept at this time.

Can I get a tax credit for donating an item to the store?
Yes. When you make a donation, we give you a tax-receipt with our non-profit identification number.

Will some of the donations, perhaps appliances, be used in Habitat homebuilding projects?
No. We use only new appliances in such projects. All construction materials including paint are new. A Habitat homeowner might want to purchase furniture or furnishings from the store, just like any other customer.