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Meet new principal
Parents are invited to meet Belmont Central Elementary School’s new principal, Sara Moore. She succeeds Julius Barkley, who retired earlier this year.
A “kitchen table talk” with Moore will be held in the school’s multi-purpose room on three occasions: Aug. 7 (today) and 14 at 7 p.m. and Aug. 13 at 10:30 a.m.
For further details, call BCE at (704)825-8479.
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Charitable treasure chest
By DIANE TURBYFILL
- Thu, Mar 13, 2008
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| ReStore Manager Jack Allen prices light fixtures that range in price from $5 to $200.- Photo by Diane Turbyfill |
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GASTONIA—What do vintage records, hand-thrown pottery and the kitchen sink have in common? Purchasing any of these items from one store helps families find homes.
The Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County ReStore offers an opportunity for potential homeowners, shoppers, donors and volunteers.
And all are sought after commodities.
“We need more customers. We need more donations, and we need more volunteers,” said Roger Fenlon, a Belmont resident who volunteers at the ReStore.
Located at 608 E. Second Ave. in Gastonia, the ReStore serves as a charitable thrift store. Donations of furniture, appliances, construction materials, home décor and a grocery list of other items are dropped off, cleaned up and repaired by volunteers then sold.
“It’s a great treasure hunt. You never know what you’re going to walk in the store and find,” said Mary Harris, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County.
Ten volunteers, one store manager and a part-time “runner” put in the hours needed to raise enough money for Habitat’s administrative costs and part of the building process. The accomplishment shouldn’t be taken lightly, according to Fenlon.
“You need to have a continuous flow of merchandise to be successful,” he said.
Such success could be evaluated in dollars in cents but bricks and mortar seems more appropriate. Since its inception, the Gaston County organization has constructed 73 homes. The latest goal is to complete 10 houses each year.
“It’s always a challenge in whatever we do, but it always comes together,” Harris said.
Harris looks forward to the challenge of building more houses in the coming year and helping more families find homes. The key word to accomplishing this feat is MORE.
MORE donations are needed for the ReStore.
MORE shoppers need to take advantages of the merchandise.
MORE volunteers need to help at the store and on building sites.
MORE families need to apply for homes.
“All of it’s got to work together to build one house,” said Harris.
Prospective homeowners should contact Habitat about the next 10 houses to be built. An information session will be held to explain the process on Saturday, April 12 at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, The Wesley Center, 190 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia.
Looking to get your hands on the goods at the ReStore? Fenlon and other volunteers at the store are preparing for their first silent auction. Antiques, first-edition books and other unique items will be placed in a special area on Wednesdays. Bidders will have a specified amount of time to stake their claim.
“We’ll have items constantly moving,” said Fenlon. “We’ve got some great, great things.”
To find out more about being a part of Habitat for Humanity of Gaston County, call (704)864-6536.
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