A grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) will enable Habitat for Humanity Northumberland to expand its donation pick-up program for its ReStore. 

The funding of $82,400 from the OTF’s Resilient Communities Fund was used to purchase a new reliable truck to meet the demand of pick-up donations, which are key to operating the ReStore.  

Yesterday, Habitat staff, volunteers and board members welcomed OTF representatives along with Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini and Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport Neil Lumsden while Cobourg council was also represented by a few councillors and Mayor Lucas Cleveland for the announcement.

Habitat Executive Director Meaghan Macdonald said until now, donations were only picked up three days a week or less when the old truck was out of commission.

“For a while, we were renting a truck so we even had to reduce it because the cost to rent was so high…but we have demand, people are waiting weeks to get the product picked up which means we’re not generating revenue and it’s not coming in through the door and going back out,” Macdonald said.

Macdonald said the ReStore and its donations is what funds the organizational capacity of Habitat Northumberland to pay for staffing so that all other funding can go towards building homes. She said because of the constant donations, there are always good finds to be had for shoppers at the store.

Anyone wishing to donate items in good condition can e-mail donatestuff@habitatnorthumberland.ca or call the ReStore and ask about donating. A list of what is accepted and what isn’t is available at habitatnorthumberland.ca

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