Patricia and Stanley Henard, otherwise known as Pat and Stan, have spent six of their seven years of retirement volunteering at the Griffith ReStore.
“After retiring, we wanted to find a way to spend our time and give back to the community,” said Pat.
The couple volunteers every Thursday at ReStore and has been doing so for the past six years. They looked at other volunteering opportunities where the could help the homeless before ReStore but could not find a good fit. Pat and Stan knew they wanted to work with the homeless because it was a issue that affected their family.
“We tried to work at a shelter with an overnight stay but then we had to shoo the people out in the morning. I didn’t have the heart for that. We have a family member that has been in and out of homelessness for years so we have an idea of what these people go through,” said Stan.
It was not until they saw an article in the newspaper asking for volunteers when they found out about ReStore.
“Working here is fun, we get to talk to people. When you’re retired, exposure is limited so this is good for us,” said Pat. “The best part about working here is feeling useful. We get treated so wonderful, and we work with a great group of people.”
Occasionally Pat helps out by cleaning and pricing newly donated items for the sales floor, however, most of her time is spent doing office work. She makes spreadsheets and also creates donation letters to send out to potential donors.
“The ReStore helps me keep up with my old work skills. It really is ‘use it or lose it’ and once you lose it, there’s no getting it back because technology is always changing,” said Pat.
Stan uses volunteering as a way to get out of the house and interact with others. He helps out with light fixtures, electrical jobs, and answers questions customers have on the sales floor.
“People ask me about plumbing, lighting, or tiles and I can help them out because we’ve been homeowners for so long,” said Stan.
Pat and Stan’s efforts do not go unnoticed by ReStores’ District Manager, Kim Derisi. “It is such a pleasure working with Pat and Stan. Their dedication as volunteers help support Habitat’s ongoing home building efforts. They are part of our team and we’re so glad to have them,” said DeRisi.
The couple sees themselves volunteering at the ReStore for years to come.
“As long as we are both healthy and able, we’ll keep contributing any way we can,” said Stan.
To find out more about volunteering or to sign up for an orientation call 219-923-7265 or email volunteer@nwihabitat.org. Visit the ReStores at www.nwirestore.org for any other questions.