Charlottetown ReStore doesn't want to be 'place for people to dump off items'

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Charlottetown continues to receive items it can't resell.

So many that the store has installed a gate and camera system to deter people from dropping off these items.

Half the time it is stuff that we can salvage, but when it's pretty obvious, items that are well-worn and damaged it just gets to be a little frustrating on our end. Paul Molyneaux, ReStore manager

Over the weekend, the store was donated a couch with broken springs and tears in the fabric.

When items like this are dropped off,staff typically have to drop them off at the closest dump which, of course, costs the ReStore time and money.

'A little frustrating'

Paul Molyneaux, the store manager, says he doesn't think people are acting with bad intentions, but hopes potential donorsconsider the state of their furniture.

"Not everything that gets brought to the ReStore is automatically accepted. Obviously we don't want to become just a place for people to dump off items," he said.

"I know people are doing it out of the goodness of their heart but there's just some things that we obviously cannot sell for various reasons."

Molyneauxsays people dropping off items that can't be sold is a common occurrence, and with certain donations it can be annoying.

"They're trying to help out half the time it is stuff that we can salvage, but when it's pretty obvious, items that are well-worn and damaged it just gets to be a little frustrating on our end."

Call ahead

Keith Bennett, from Halifax, has a cottage in P.E.I. and spends his summers on the Island.

He brought a swivel chair to the ReStore that no longer had use in his cottage. Staff deemed it unfit to sell so Bennett took it to the dump.

"I guess it didn't meet the grade for Habitat for Humanity," he said.

"It's all good. They have their standards and they don't want to sell junk and if they can't make money on it why should they hang on to it?"

Molyneaux said the store has installed cameras and is using social media to share when people drop off items that areunusable.

He saidif you're not sure whether an item is OKto be donated,call and ask first.

The ReStore isn't the only store where this happens.

Value Village and Mission Thrift Stores in Charlottetown also experience the problem on a regular basis.

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