Week 8: Reduce, reuse, recycle, ReStore.

By Rebecca Kleveland & Bea Flodeen


The ReStore is a unique part of Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity and has changed a lot over the years. In 2004, Cedar Valley Habitat ReStore was located at 725 N. Center Point Road in Hiawatha, in previously owned "Flooring Xpress" building. After the 2008 Flood that entirely wiped out the Cedar Valley Habitat main office in downtown Cedar Rapids, all affiliate operations were moved to the ReStore. In December 2010, both the ReStore and affiliate office moved back downtown.

“Two and a half years after Habitat moved out of downtown Cedar Rapids due to the flood, it is exciting to be back downtown closer to the core Cedar Rapids neighborhoods that we primarily serve with our housing mission,” said Karen Hufnagel, Cedar Valley Habitat’s board president in 2010.

Two‐thirds of Habitat’s operations – the affiliate offices and ReStore – moved literally yards from the organization’s pre‐flood location to the newly renovated “Peter Pan” building. Habitat is leasing more than 27,000 square feet of space in the building. Dozens of local sub‐contractors were involved in the rehabilitation. With the inclusion of the construction office and shop, located on First Street, all of Habitat’s operations are now located in buildings affected by the 2008 floods. This move was featured as one of the many "Signs of Progress," making a downtown area investment.

“We saw firsthand the devastation of the 2008 flood when our office was submerged,” said Jeff Capps, executive director. “We’re thrilled to return to the core of the city and be part of the awesome revitalization process already taking place here.”

ReStore’s purpose is to help fundraise for Habitat for Humanity with all of the proceeds going right back into Habitat. The other purpose of the ReStore is to help out the community by keeping things out of the landfill.

Read More
KCRG: "New Habitat ReStore Hopes to Make $1 Million in One Year
The Gazette: "New life for old stuff; ReStore offers affordable merchandise for do-it-yourselfers"
The Gazette: Linn County Prepares to Sell Century-Old Mott Building
Junior League of Cedar Rapids: "'Dump Your Truck' for JLCR & Habitat for Humanity"
First Cedar Rapids Mini Maker Faire This Saturday

The ReStore has many different aspects to it with customers being able to shop, donate, and volunteer. Shopping is a great way to help bring in money to Habitat as well as get work completed on your house. Not only does ReStore have gently used items but brand new items as well. ReStore of course needs donations in order to keep up with everyone’s shopping. We look for quality clean items that we can take and sell. We get such a variety of things from interior doors, claw foot tubs, lighting, to antiques. You never know what you will find when you come into the ReStore, some things are here one minute and gone the next. We enjoy having a loyal customer base that comes and shops on a regular, sometimes daily, basis. People enjoy coming into the ReStore not only for the discounted prices on gently used items, but for the great customer service. ReStore works hard at serving people by helping to carry out purchases of large items, loading purchases in vehicles, and helping to unload donations from vehicles as well.


Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Current location: 350 6th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids

We share the parking lot with Klinger paint, and our parking lot is right across the street from the new library being built. We are all settled into are downtown location and are organized. We now have items separated out into categories such as electrical, lighting, trim, outdoor, and more. The ReStore also is into Pinterest now. Pinterest is a website for crafty people to get on to share ideas for projects and creative reuse items. The ReStore carries a lot of the things that are featured on Pinterest. We have a group of people come in once a month to work on their projects and share idea’s with each other. We also have other opportunities to use the ReStore’s resources. We have a “living room” space that you can host meetings in for free! We also are able to host scout groups or birthday parties, just call for details.

Just remember that every time you shop, we build. For more information, contact ReStore by phone at (319) 294-1500 or visit www.cvhabitat.org/restore.

August 13, 2013 - ReStore Reinvention	May 10, 2013 - Day of Caring - ReStore
November 9, 2011 - ReStore Creative Reuse Gallery	August 19, 2004 to 2006 - ReStore Startup

Week 7: "Do you believe in miracles?"

By Lynda Haddy

Future homeowners and neighbors Lynda and Shannon

My name is Lynda Haddy. I was divorced with a family of three boys ages 21, 18 and 12. I was renting a house in Cedar Rapids which was expensive, but I wanted my boys to live in a neighborhood versus an apartment. After a few years the landlord decided he wanted to sell the home. I considered trying to buy it; however, it needed many repairs and the mortgage payment would have left me “house poor” with no means to fix anything. I began to pray. I am a medical secretary with a good job at the hospital and receive child support but money was still very tight. I tried going back to school, but the boys were always my first priority and I wanted to be available for them and their activities.

I have a picture in my bathroom that says: “Believe…all things are possible if you believe.” Mark 9:23. I am a strong Christian raised Missouri Synod Lutheran. With the help of scholarship monies, the boys were sent to Trinity Lutheran School here in Cedar Rapids and attended church regularly. I sacrificed “wants” because it was important to me that they would have this Christian foundation.

Cedar Rapids was flooded in 2008 and many homes and businesses were lost. It was a major setback and devastating to our city. Help arrived from everywhere and we began steps to recover. Habitat for Humanity was going to build 22 homes beginning in the spring of 2009. The house I was renting had water throughout the basement but we were lucky compared to others who lost everything.

Lightting a candle of hope during Lynda's home dedication

I happened to see in our local newspaper the announcement for the build. It was offered to flood victims and anyone else who would qualify financially. I don’t see the newspaper everyday and know it was Divine intervention that brought me to read it. I immediately applied. I attended a meeting for prospective applicants. I did not know much about Habitat for Humanity. Jeff Capps was the brand new executive director for Cedar Valley and spoke that night starting with a prayer as he held a Bible in his hand. After he spoke I was convinced and knew in my heart this was an organization that truly helps people like myself and I wanted to be part of it. After crunching numbers, I knew I could never afford a house on my own on my salary.

I will never forget when Jeff called me and told me I would be getting a house! It was a true miracle!! I had renewed hope and faith for the future – that I could provide a house that the boys could call home, in a safe and new neighborhood, with a yard and their own bedrooms. At my age also having a mortgage with a zero interest rate was an incredible blessing!

That summer it was like going to summer camp. My boys learned about tools and building but most importantly they saw how people volunteered their time and efforts to help build our home. We began the day holding hands in a circle, praying, sharing inspirational messages, ending with our hands in the air saying, “Habitat is a hand-up, not a hand out!” Strangers became dear friends. I have to say it was the best experience of my life. The Build-A-Thon week with AmeriCorps volunteers and Kurt Warner was beyond wonderful – their enthusiasm and caring lifted me spiritually. By the end of the week I had “adopted” all of the AmeriCorps volunteers working on my home!

My brand new home came with plenty of space for me and my boys and brand new appliances (stove, refrigerator and washer/dryer). As I sit and write this I become teary-eyed knowing that I was lucky enough to receive this unbelievable miracle in my life. There is such a need for affordable housing in this country. Things continue to sky rocket in price and sometimes if I don’t live a day at a time I can get very overwhelmed.

God is a good God! Habitat for Humanity IS an extension of God’s grace and love for all people. Working toward homeownership with has been an incredible gift for me and my family. I will end with this scripture: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Week 6: 25 Hour Women Build

By Malorie Hepner

Women Build ladies pose for a quick picture before painting
during the National Women Build Week event

For the second year in a row, the Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity (CVHfH) is completing a Women Build house. The house, located on the Southeast side of Cedar Rapids, will be funded and constructed using primarily women volunteers and their enthusiasm and dedication.

With our first fundraiser, Steaks & Stilettos, just completed, we are proceeding with the build and offering lots of sponsorship opportunities to companies, organizations, and individuals throughout the community. One of the unique parts about the Habitat Women Build is that we are responsible for everything from the fundraising, to volunteer staffing, to providing lunch for our volunteers. We probably have the best fed and most photographed build in the entire area!

Last year we were able to complete the construction of the house with no shortage of volunteers. Almost every woman we asked wanted to help on the build site, whether they had experience or not. Due to the overwhelming enthusiasm of this community of women, we were asked to help promote the 25th anniversary of the CVHfH by kicking off the Women Build with a 25-hour build. We will be starting off our build by constructing our new home from 7am on Friday morning until 8am on Saturday morning. We will have about 20 female volunteers, crew leaders, hospitality, and safety staff on hand for eight hour shifts. Lunch, snacks, and caffeine will be included for all involved!

August 9, 2013 - 25-Hour Women Build
May 10-11, 2013 - National Women Build Week	May 2, 2013 - Women Build Class @ Lowes

Week 5: Coming Home

By Bea Flodeen

View Larger Map

It’s been a long road to home ownership for Paula Mahan. Quite literally.

In June of 1995, the home that Paula would later own on Ellis Boulevard was sitting on its foundation behind the Johnson Avenue Hy-Vee. According to Google Maps, that’s about a six minute drive and just about a mile and a half away. Moving an entire home off of its foundation, down the road on a flat-bed truck, didn't discourage the volunteers who paused traffic while utility workers held up wires by tall poles so the roof had safe clearance.

Once the home was securely placed on its new foundation on Ellis, Habitat volunteers went to work rehabilitating the home with Paula and her two young daughters. The family moved into their home to create a stable foundation of their own after the dedication celebration was complete, keys were handed over and mortgage papers signed.

That is not the end of the story, however. In 2008, flood waters rose faster and higher than anyone could have imagined. The entire first floor, up to the ceiling, was filled with water. Paula says the artwork her daughters created over the years, which filled shelves in the rooms on the second floor were the most precious, irreplacable items in the home. Fortunately, the upstairs was spared.

Seeing her neighbors vacating their flood-affected homes, Paula had a choice to make whether to stay or go. The decision came partly by the city inspectors who found her foundation was safe, stable, secure. Surrounding neighbors weren't so fortunate and their homes were torn down one by one.

The decision to stay also came by way of the pride she had in the home. She had worked on the home, right along side the Habitat volunteers. She was there the day the home rolled in on a truck and wasn't about to abandon it, especially considering that she was so close to paying off her mortage.

In 2013, Paula made the final payment on her Habitat home. Changes have been made to the home since she’d first moved in, such as detachable cabinets in case it floods again, but one thing is unchanging: Paula Mahan is home to stay.



Paula Mahan in front of her payed off Habitat home



Week 4: Care-A-Vanning for a Cause

By: Bea Flodeen

Summer 2013 - Habitat Care-A-Vanners

Habitat RV Care-A-Vanners are a special breed of volunteers. They travel across the country in their RVs to give of their their time and talents on Habitat for Humanity build sites. This summer, we are hosting a Care-A-Vanner build located at 1247 4th Street SW in Cedar Rapids. That's not to say this is the first time we've had Care-A-Vanners in town before. Quite to the contrary, volunteers from all over the US have rolled into Cedar Rapids to help build Habitat homes.

Shortly after the flood of 2008, the Cedar Valley Habitat board of directors decided to set a goal: 60 families served in three years. It was a lofty goal considering we'd only been completing one to two homes every year previous, but the need was so great in the community. Thousands of volunteers stepped forward to help build and rebuild. From those volunteers, particularly those who rolled in with their RVs, an idea was born.

A grant application was submitted to the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation for assistance with creating an RV lot located at the construction warehouse, in the heart of the Time Check neighborhood. With the approval of the grant, ten full RV hook-ups were installed, providing the stability of a "base camp" for the Care-A-Vanners serving our community.

RVs set up in the Habitat "base camp"

Since 2009, Bob and Doris Meyer have made an annual trek in their RV all the way from Valrico, Florida to build with Cedar Valley Habitat. As team leaders, Bob and Doris arrived first at the Habitat RV lot, leading the charge as seven additional couples joined in, from locations including North Carolina, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and South Dakota.

For the last two weeks, Care-A-Vanners have been out on the build site every day, constructing walls, putting up blue-board, setting trusses and installing siding. The family of three who will move into the home this fall have provided several lunches for the volunteers who have traveled so far to serve. In so doing, the Habitat RV Care-A-Vanners create for themselves a sort of long-distance family among the other RVers they meet and work with season after season.

Care-A-Vanners checking for level

To learn more, visit www.cvhabitat.org/rv or www.habitat.org/rv.

July 16, 2013 - Care-A-Vanners Build Gallery

July 12, 2013 - Care-A-Vanner Build Gallery

Week 3: Welcoming Peace

By: AT Holder

Debra and Ray Stull



Ray and Debra Stull

Ray Stull was our first, A Brush with Kindness, this year and set the bar very high. Ray was always thanking the volunteers and always made sure to meet every person who came on site. Ray would always tell the volunteers that he used to have the ugliest house on the street but now with their help he has the best looking house around. Ray used to take a back street to his house, which was quicker, but eventually he told us that he would drive out of his way just so he could see the fullness of his house.





In the middle of painting

Towards the end of the project Ray told us that he wrote a letter for us and the volunteers who had been helping us out. He said that he wrote it but had second thoughts so he just ripped it up and threw it away. I encouraged him to write a new one and that the volunteers would love to hear what he had to say and later the same day Ray brought out the letter and gave it to me. When we finally left his house Ray said he would miss us, he told us thanks for everything and lastly, “I feel like a got a new house and some new friends.”


Women Build volunteers about to put
their painting skills to good use on Ray's home

Week 2: Serving Those Who Served Us

By: David Henrion

Cliff Eisley, Retired Vet and Repair Corps Participant

We have this program here at Cedar Valley Habitat, called the Repair Corps. The idea is to help improve the homes of local veterans and give something back to those who risked giving up everything for their country and their fellow citizens. It’s sponsored by the Home Depot, and they give us $15,000 to use on every home. This goes a long way into improving the lives of some amazing people.

Mike Bisek is 90+ years old. I mention that first, because that’s almost the most impressive part of his story. Well, ok, maybe not. He lives by himself (his wife died a few years back), and still gets around pretty well. He drives himself; he’s up to date on how Iowa is doing in the tournament; his TVs are all tuned into news stations and you can tell that current events have a tight hold on his interests. It’s also hard to overstate just how nice of a man Mike is. Every morning he has coffee and pastries for our volunteers, and he is genuinely disappointed if he can’t provide lunch. But that’s not the only impressive thing about Mike. He served in the Air Force during World War II, and was shot down over France. He had to hide out with the French Resistance until he could be rescued by U.S. forces. He came back to Cedar Rapids, married, had children, and lived well. Now, he’s a little older and a little slower. We at Habitat were able to replace his bathroom and convert his porch into a regular room. He can actually safely reach his shower and his washer/dryer, without worrying about falling en route.

Willard is another World War II veteran. I haven’t been able to hear his age, his branch of service, or his life after leaving the military. He is a lot quieter than Mike, but what does speak loudly is the condition of his home. Willard is a hoarder, and he has it to a severe extent. I don’t totally understand hoarding, but I do understand wanting to hold on the mementos and memories of a good life. And I can certainly see how someone could fall into a trap of leaning too much on past books, clothing, or memories. In Willard’s specific case, it is hard to convey with words just how packed his house was. We ended up donating two truckloads of clothing to Goodwill, filling the largest available dumpster to the brim, and there was still much more left. We had to clean up his house, in order to remove asbestos from his basement, fix his windows, and complete the rest of our scope. It was something that needed to be done, even if it was painful for Willard. We left him with a healthier house, and hopefully a healthier state of mind.