Every inch of space is packed, inside and out, and ReStore needs more room. In fact, it looks like they outgrew their space a long time ago, but ReStore and Habitat for Humanity have been busy serving the community and helping families achieve their dreams of quality, stable housing.

At the ReStore thrift shop on West Isabella Street in Salisbury, you can find furniture, construction materials, home goods and appliances. It’s a lot of everything, and they are always adding more. The store benefits Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County, whose offices take up half of the building. During my visit there this week, I saw just how cramped they are. But that’s about to change, as they have purchased a building in Fruitland which is being rehabbed for a second ReStore location and new corporate offices. Fundraising is underway for the “Building for the Future” campaign to make the expansion possible.

Habitat for Humanity, located in all 50 states and 70 countries, helps families in need of housing by building homes, repairing homes and offering workforce development and financial literacy classes. Their vision is “a world where everyone has a decent place to live,” and in Wicomico County, that means 84 families have become homeowners since the program began in 1986. They have built or rehabbed 73 homes and sold them with affordable mortgages to hardworking, low-income families. They have also completed 100 critical home repairs in that time, such as roofs, enabling particularly seniors and veterans to stay in their homes, which they call “aging in place.”

Also important to note is the number of families saved from eviction, thanks to Habitat. It’s a whopping 2,516 families! 

Once the offices relocate to Fruitland, the old office space will allow the store to expand, said Lee Wise, ReStore manager. The goal is to move the offices by next spring, with the new store location opening after that. Local construction group Gillis Gilkerson is overseeing the rehab of the new 8,200 square foot space, and some of the work will be done by volunteers.

Anytime I’ve ever been to the store, it’s busy. There’s always a steady flow of people looking for bargains. “Even though we have shoppers in all income levels, this particularly helps lower income people,” Wise explained. Sometimes people will drive up in a U-Haul and purchase enough to furnish a home, while others are there to find just one item for a project or they are on the hunt for an antique.

Shannon Hill has worked at ReStore for three years and has already been named manager of the new location. For her, seeing the joy of people being able to buy things they otherwise couldn’t afford is a highlight of her job. “People can furnish their whole house for a few hundred dollars instead of thousands,” she said.

What stands out to Wise is the generosity of people, such as when people are aware of a need and they shop at the store to provide something for someone else.

Generosity is the word that describes everything about ReStore and Habitat for Humanity. The community donates on a regular basis, and while drop offs are welcome anytime the store is open, ReStore will gladly pick up donations at your home or business. They are currently scheduling about two weeks out because there are so many donations. Donations need to be in “good selling shape,” Wise explained. Upholstery should not have any rips or stains and appliances should be working. A volunteer at the store tests appliances weekly, Wise said, and there is a two-week warranty period as well so you can be confident in your purchase.



Hill said items that are not accepted for donation include anything that could have recalls, so no baby items, for example. Car seats and cribs are not sold at the store. 

ReStore is critical to the mission of Habitat for Humanity. The bulk of the budget for Habitat comes from the store and the yearly spring fundraiser, Chefs for Habitat, which last year generated almost $100,000 and was supported completely by local businesses and individuals.

Assistant Manager Donna Womack greeted me when I shopped this week. She first started working at Habitat for Humanity in 2019 with AmeriCorps. She explained the mission simply, “We convert our donations into homes for people.”

Families that are helped by Habitat participate in the building process and might include helping clear the lot, painting, assisting with construction or working in the office. People are expected to invest through “sweat equity” in their own homes and work to improve their own situations.  Home buyer education classes are required as well. 

This spring, Habitat embarked on a $1.6 million building campaign and so far, $873,000 has been raised, said Christina Williams, director of development for Habitat. The campaign currently has match funding, where every donation will be matched up to $20,000, thank you to Tom and Lisa Shelton and the Salisbury Rollergirls. So, if someone gives $500, it will automatically become $1,000.

Major funding for the project so far is from the Richard A. Henson Foundation, the Perdue family and Mrs. Nancy Rubenson.



The new location in Fruitland is a former warehouse next to the post office on N. Dulaney Ave. The space has been gutted and will be transformed thanks to the generosity of the community. Every part of the building can be named for a donation, and the biggest one is still available, naming the campus for a donation of $1,000,000. Naming opportunities exist for the administrative offices, ReStore, conference rooms, the repair shop, just about every aspect of the building down to $2,500 donations for shelving. The details and a dedicated fundraising link are available at https://onecau.se/buildwithhabitat. 

The new space will enable Habitat to continue to expand their programs, notably serving veterans, Williams said. “We are committed to giving back to those who gave so much to us,” she continued. They have already replaced roofs for two veterans this year and another one is slated for this month.

Habitat will be hosting their first 9/11 Day of Service this year and Remembrance build days on Sept. 8, 9, and 11.