Habitat for Humanity does more than just build homes

CAMDEN COUNTY, N.J., Aug. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Habitat for Humanity, known throughout the world for helping families build and improve homes, is working to positively impact the local Camden community by providing decent and affordable places to call home. Since its founding in 1986, Habitat for Humanity of Camden County has partnered with approximately 60 families and nine years ago, opened the ReStore donation center and resale showroom in Pennsauken, NJ to provide a resource for residents and businesses to donate reusable furniture, appliances, home goods and building supplies. The items are then resold to the public at a fraction of the retail price to raise additional funds for their home building mission.

"There are many excellent resources available for donating ordinary household items such as clothing and books, but furniture and appliances present a whole different set of challenges and potential expenses," observes Jeff Mihalek, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity for Camden County.  "We provide a no-cost and no-waste alternative to disposal, and we'll even do the heavy lifting!"

By providing a free donation pickup service, the ReStore quickly became a go-to resource for local homeowners looking to donate heavy and bulky items after remodeling, downsizing or just getting organized. But it's not just homeowners partnering with the Habitat ReStore to put their excess items to good use, local businesses are getting involved as well. Recently, Subaru of America enhanced its existing relationship with Habitat for Humanity by donating furniture from its former office to ReStore after moving into a newly constructed headquarters building in Camden, NJ.

"As we transitioned to our new corporate headquarters in Camden, building upon our work with cherished, long-time partner and new neighbor Habitat for Humanity of Camden County was the clear and natural decision," said Thomas J. Doll, President and CEO of Subaru of America, Inc. "Donating office furniture and equipment from our Pennsauken facility to Habitat's ReStore is a triple win; it supports the Habitat for Humanity organization and the Camden community by raising more funds to build additional affordable housing, and also speaks to Subaru's Love Promise commitment to minimize our environmental impact. By recycling our gently-used furnishings, we hope that more families in Camden have a place to call home."

"Subaru and Habitat for Humanity of Camden County have partnered in community building for over twenty years, so we were eager to help them find a good home for their excess office furniture," said Mihalek.  "We were able to accept approximately 34,000 pounds of usable chairs, file cabinets, bookcases and more."

"In the end, we were able to remove the inventory at no cost to Subaru, divert 17 tons of materials from local landfills, offer high quality office furniture to our ReStore shoppers at great prices, and ultimately raise funds for our home building projects," summarized Mihalek.  "It's a win-win for everyone, but it wouldn't have happened without the conscientiousness and generosity of Subaru."

About Habitat for Humanity of Camden County

Celebrating 31 years of changing lives in Camden County, New Jersey; to date 60 homes have been built.

Habitat for Humanity of Camden County, headquartered in Pennsauken, NJ, builds affordable and sustainable housing solutions and empowers families though successful homeownership.  People in local communities and all over the world partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home.  Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.  With Habitat's help, Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.  For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Camden County please visit our website www.habitatcamden.org.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $120 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 40,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do.

For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc.