Patuxent Habitat for Humanity is preparing for a busy couple of months as it finalizes a live auction, its annual charity run and yet another home build.
A busy part of the year for the local nonprofit organization will commence with a live auction beginning at 9 a.m. this Saturday, April 27, at the ReStore, located at Unit 18A, 21600 Great Mills Road in Great Mills.
As of April 19, there were 104 items for the auction including wicker items, an inflatable boat and a Star Wars-themed display. Registration begins at 8 a.m.
“This is what we get on a rolling basis,” Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Catherine Shipman said. “You never know what you’re going to find when you come in here.”
The store located in the plaza on Great Mills Road has a vast variety of household items, including furniture and building supplies like doors and windows.
“We’re really excited because [this auction idea is] new,” said Habitat for Humanity Logistics Coordinator Laura Walker, who added the list of auction items is “still climbing.”
Shipman said part of the idea for the auction was to let the community know about the ReStore.
“A lot of people drive by because they don’t think we’re open to the public,” she said. “[But] we are open and we have everything from nails to lighting to furniture.”
The ReStore is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and accepts items until 3 p.m. on those days.
Bought items can even be delivered or donated items can be picked up with a suggested donation of $10 to help offset the cost of gas and vehicle maintenance. The store does not accept mattresses, boxsprings, clothing or baby items.
“People don’t understand that we charge money for items that were donated to us, but it’s not like it’s going into our pockets,” Walker said. “It’s going into the community to help people who need it.”
As part of the national organization, Patuxent Habitat for Humanity assists low-income families with building houses.
The nonprofit’s signature event, the Warrior 5K Run/Walk, will be held 9 a.m. Saturday, June 8, in Solomons.
“We have a strong military community and [the money raised] goes toward our veteran’s critical home repairs,” Shipman said when asked why the event, which drew about 120 competitors a few years back, is so successful.
The organization also recently selected LaToya Carroll as the recipient of its annual home build.
“We called her [to tell her she’d been selected] and she screamed and then cried,” Walker said. “She had to close the door because she was so excited and was at work.”
Groundbreaking for the new three-bedroom, 1.5-bath home in Lexington Park will be held May 18.
Recipients must meet eligibility requirements, be able to pay the interest-free mortgage and put in 250 hours of sweat equity during the build.
“Most of our new homeowners are single women, so it’s good for them to be able to see how their house is built,” Walker said. “And they learn how to take care of the house in the process of building it so it works very well for them.”
WM Davis Construction will be the lead on the project, which is expected to take 16 to 24 weeks to complete.
For more information on volunteering at Patuxent Habitat for Humanity or any of the above events, call 301-863-6227, ext. 16, or go to www.patuxenthabitat.org.
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