Last year, the annual auction hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Saline County switched its focus to repurposed furniture, and so far, the idea has been “a perfect fit.”
“This is our ninth year for the auction, but it is the second year for the repurpose focus,” said Christina Chen, communications and development director for Habitat for Humanity of Saline County. “It started out as an art auction, but now, it is really awesome because we can utilize our ReStore, and people can borrow items from the store and donate them back for the auction, so they don’t have to pay for the initial item.”
The Repurpose for a Purpose auction, presented by Ridout Lumber in Benton, will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Benton Event Center, 17322 Interstate 30.
Chen said Habitat is encouraging Pinterest-savvy or do-it-yourself professionals to redo or upcycle items for the auction. The money raised will go directly to the completion of Phase 6 of the Partnership Village in Benton.
The current Partnership Village consists of 60 homes, and Habitat is looking to add 15 more homes to the village. It costs about $75,000 for one home, and Chen said she hopes to raise at least $15,000 at this year’s auction.
“Repurpose for a Purpose is the largest fundraising event to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Saline County,” Executive Director Stephanie Griffin said. “It is simply an auction of repurposed items that DIY artists have done and donated to us to generate funds to build more Habitat homes in our community.”
Griffin said the decision to move from an art auction was because the organization wanted to have more variety of pieces and items of various price points.
“With this event, we also like to bring more awareness to our ReStore because there are always new donations coming in to the ReStore that you can purchase for your home, some that you may want to repurpose,” Griffin said.
She said someone may find a door at the ReStore, 124 S. Market St. in Benton, priced for $5 or $10, then repurpose it for a headboard that will sell at the auction for $100 or $150, “or maybe a table and chairs that had been sitting in the garage and were upcycled to bring in $250 or $300,” Griffin said. “So there will be a variety of items and a broad range of prices that make it affordable for any attendee to go home with something new for their home.
“Plus, they will be one-of-a-kind items.”
There will also be plenty of donated auction items, including a pearl necklace from Baker’s Fine Jewelry, vacation packages, and plane tickets from Southwest Airlines. Chen said there will also be gift cards from area restaurants and Magic Springs tickets. She said Habitat will accept items until the event.
“It is really a trendy thing to repurpose or upcycle furniture,” Chen said. “Again, it goes so well with our ReStore. The fact that people can borrow an item and donate it back for the auction — it is just a great partnership and a great fit.
“We build homes, and we sell things for your home.”
Chen has been with Habitat for Humanity of Saline County for four months. She previously worked for Arkansas State University in Jonesboro as a recruitment adviser.
“I have always wanted to work in fundraising; it is a passion of mine,” Chen said. “When my boyfriend and I were looking to move to central Arkansas, it just seemed like a perfect fit.”
Griffin said Habitat for Humanity of Saline County operates independently of any other Habitat, therefore is also responsible for raising its own funds to build homes because the organization does not receive any outside funding.
“These homes are not given away and are sold at cost to ‘partner families,’ who will put in sweat equity hours, go through homeowner training classes and partner with us by paying a monthly mortgage,” Griffin said. “So in order for us to help give a ‘hand up’ to a deserving family, we first have to have the funds to build that house.
“Fundraising events, such as Repurpose for a Purpose, are very important to the success of Habitat for Humanity of Saline County and the impact we can have in the community.”
For more information, visit www.habitatsalinecounty.com or call (501) 315-5434.
Staff writer Sam Pierce can be reached at (501) 244-4314 or spierce@arkansasonline.com.