Dear Donors, Shoppers, and Volunteers,

We are back!

Usually at the end of the year, we take a couple of weeks off around the holidays. A week in November to celebrate with our families for the Thanksgiving holiday. And again, in December around Christmas.

Now we are back and are excited to get started on another super year here at the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore. 

Donors, are you aware that we offer a complimentary pick-up service for large items you might wish to donate to our cause? That's right, it's a free pickup. We accept good working appliances, gently used and well-maintained furniture too. You can go directly to our website at iowacityrestore.com and schedule a pick-up, post photos and ask questions. On the website you can also get a look at a list of items we accept and a list of items we are not able to take. We can't wait to see what you bring to help build homes in 2026!

Hey you Shoppers! We've been waiting for you to come in and support our mission by purchasing quality used items at a fraction of retail cost! Building materials, appliances, light fixtures, tools, hardware, and all the furniture you could possibly fill your spaces with. Keep the color of the tag in mind, because we change them every week. The color tag on that sweet barstool may get you up to 75% off. Check the color board right when you come in and be sure to get your discounts!

Volunteer folks, we see you. Are you looking to spend a few hours a week with your new friends? We have the opportunity and privilege to help you with that. All the while you are helping put our mission to work. You can come to the ReStore and help sort and price donations. Or you can separate and bag redeemable cans and bottles to help generate money to help build homes for people in your community. There are plenty of jobs here for all skill levels. You have a specific set of skills you would be interested in sharing with us? Lamp restoration, furniture repair, retail experience, upholstery, you name it. We will find a good fit for you here in the store.

So, remember we are back. Your donations, your spending​, and your time, help your Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity build homes, create friendships, and offer quality items to people in our community.

See you soon,
​Thorin Peugh
Director, Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Open Wednesday through Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm
2401 Scott Blvd SE | Iowa City, Iowa 52240 | (319) 338-5687
​Visit the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore: iowacityrestore.com | Facebook

Last week, Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s Helping Hands home repair staff responded to an emergency repair (ERMAR) for a homeowner facing unsafe and unhealthy living conditions during sub-zero temperatures. These are the moments when our community’s support can make an incredible impact on our neighbors. Together, we build belonging.

The repair request came from a mobile homeowner who is an older adult living with disabilities. A November windstorm damaged the home, which is located near the northeast corner of the mobile home park, exposing it to the strongest winds in the area. During the storm, the wind lifted the home’s vinyl siding and tore off a 25-foot section with it.

Although the trailer was built in 2000, no sheathing was installed behind the siding. When the siding came off, the insulation was also damaged, leaving only drywall between the homeowner and the freezing temperatures.

HomeBrewed, Home Renewed was a memorable night of music, community, and shared commitment to Habitat's mission. The support raised during the evening will directly strengthen our Helping Hands home repair program, helping homeowners remain safe, stable, and independent in the homes they already love.

Join us on Saturday, December 20th at 9:00am for our Women Dedication Ceremony for Wai Yin Chan and Linda "Digger" Barrow! The address is 708 9th Avenue, Coralville, Iowa. Can't make it? Check out video below to get a tour of the home!

Our December Construction Tool of the Month is, in IVHFH Construction Manager Chris Weckmann's terms, the Springy Nail Set​. This is one of the main tools used on the IVHFH construction site to help construction volunteers nail trim work on the inside of the home. Chris explains what a springy nail set is and its use on the construction site. Watch the video below to hear what he has to say!

What does Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity use this tool for?
The Springy Nail Set is primarily used on the site for both interior and exterior work as volunteers install trim, soffit, and fascia. Occasionally, when using an air gun to install trim, the nails may not fully embed. The Springy Nail Set is beneficial for volunteers who may be a little nervous when using a hammer, as they could accidentally strike the fascia too forcefully and dent it. This tool helps drive the nail into the final place to create a smooth surface without denting the material.

Meet Isaac Brandt, a CORE volunteer with Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity's construction team. Isaac is one of the newest members of our CORE construction volunteers, and we are so glad that he volunteers with us! We recently caught up with Isaac to chat about his experience volunteering with our organization.

What year did you start volunteering with Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity?
2024, I was lacking purpose on weekends and wanted to use the skillset I’ve worked hard to achieve to do something greater than myself. I have a friend who works for Waco Habitat in Texas named Jose, and his videos of the work they do was a large inspiration to show up.

What is your favorite memory with IVHFH? 
Sheeting the second-story floor of the Grouch house with an awesome group of med students. We got the entire level decked by the end of the day.

What drives you to continue to volunteer with IVHFH? 
The families and Habitat team. The field and office personnel make me feel like family. Seeing the families that will move into the house is the largest reason, the gratitude they express and willingness to learn is something that is rare in the trades.

If you could give advice to any new volunteers or individuals who are on the fence about volunteering, what would you tell them? 
Take the leap and show up! They have the tools and experience if you have none and will always be kind and constructive. It’s not a breakneck pace to make a dollar; it’s an educative experience and fun days outside swinging hammers or setting casework in a warm kitchen in the winter. 
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Is there anything else you would like to share? 
We couldn’t do what we do on the build sites without the ReStore volunteers and Habitat office team and board. We may drive the nails and raise the walls, but every member and volunteer that procures funding, applies for permits, manages the volunteer schedule, plans events; there is not one insignificant role, and it’s an organization I’m proud to do my part in to make the world around me a better place.

Thank you, Isaac, for all of your hard work and dedication to Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity! We are so thankful for the countless hours you have dedicated to our organization, whether it is on the build site or being an advocate in the community as shown in the video below.

Meet Gerry Stebbins, a CORE volunteer with Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s construction team. Gerry has been a great addition to our CORE volunteers, and we are so glad that he volunteers with us! We recently caught up with Gerry to discuss his experience volunteering with our organization.

​What year did you start volunteering with Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity?
I have been a Habitat volunteer since 1990, in the Iowa Quad Cities. In fact, I was on the original Board of Directors who incorporated the Quad Cities affiliate. When I retired from John Deere in 2016, we relocated to our current home in West Branch. I actually spent the summer of 2017 commuting back and forth to Moline, IL, to work on the 100th home build by the Quad Cities affiliate. So, I didn’t start volunteering locally until the spring of 2018, working on the renovation of a home in Coralville, out by the mall.

What is your favorite memory with Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity?
I do not have any particular “favorite” memory. Rather, I enjoy a recurring sense of accomplishment that comes from the completion of a project or any given part of a project.

What drives you to continue to volunteer with us?
I have always liked working with my hands. In part as an antidote to my professional life, which was mainly administrative work. I like to stand back at the end of a work session, look at what has been accomplished, and say, “I built that.” Not surprisingly, my other interest involves building construction, though on a slightly different “scale”. (Pun intended, I am a member of the local model railroad club.) That feeling, as well as the good people I work with, is what keeps me coming back.

Thank you, Gerry, for all of your hard work and dedication to Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity! We are so thankful for the countless hours you have devoted to Habitat for Humanity through our affiliate and in the Quad Cities!

Our November Construction Tool of the Month is the Aluminum Shear, one of the main tools used on the IVHFH construction site during soffit and fascia installation. IVHFH Construction Manager Chris Weckmann explains what an aluminum shear is and its use on the construction site. Watch the video below to hear what he has to say!

What does Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity use this tool for?
The Aluminum Shear is primarily used to cut aluminum for installing soffit and fascia on a home’s roof. This tool is handy for slicing through aluminum, thanks to its two wheels that cut effectively. It allows both straight and curved cuts and can even make cuts at 90 degrees. Additionally, it produces no metal dust and does not crinkle the metal. Compared to a saw, the aluminum shear operates quietly.

At Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity, not all Habitat heroes wear hard hats. While we love seeing volunteers on our build sites, swinging hammers is just one of the countless ways to make a difference. Your time, skills, and expertise—no matter what they are—can become powerful tools in building safe, affordable homes with our neighbors.
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A shining example of this broad spirit of giving is Lepic Kroeger Realtors (LKR). In addition to contributing time and money as a Team Build Partner every build season, their team has stepped up in creative and impactful ways, expanding our capacity far beyond the construction site.

Here are just a few of the unique and powerful ways LKR has supported IVHFH:

• Marketing Expertise: Earlier this year, Kayla Fisher and the LKR marketing team produced a fun and informative video spotlighting our ReStore. Professional storytelling helps our community understand the Iowa City ReStore’s impact—while freeing our staff to focus on programs and families rather than producing marketing content in-house. The financial savings from this contribution go directly toward building and repairing homes.
• Photography: Photos are among our most powerful tools for volunteer recruitment. Thanks to LKR’s photography support in capturing their build days with us, we can share real moments of joy, teamwork, and empowerment that inspire others to get involved. Every photo taken means our staff can spend more time coordinating volunteers and less time behind the camera.
• Sharing a Trusted Endorsement: LKR uses its own platforms to share its volunteer stories, lending its respected voice to amplify ours. When a trusted local business highlights Habitat’s impact, it helps our entire community see that housing stability and compassion go hand in hand with business leadership.

We are deeply grateful to Lepic Kroeger Realtors for going above and beyond to strengthen our community. Their generosity proves that every skill and every hour can make a tangible difference.
Whether you’re a marketing professional, photographer, tradesperson, or someone with a heart to help, there’s a place for you at Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity.

You’re always welcome to swing a hammer—but if your gifts look different, we can’t wait to find the perfect way for you to share them. Email [email protected] to learn how you can get involved!

Our October Construction Tool of the Month is the Siding Jig, one of the main tools utilized on the IVHFH construction site when installing siding. IVHFH Construction Manager, Christy Shipley, explains what the siding jig is and its use on the construction site. Watch the video below to hear what she has to say!

What does Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity use this tool for?
The Siding Jig is primarily used when siding is needed to be cut long, straight, and repeatedly with a circular saw. It can be made from metal, wood, or any material the builder chooses. The jig itself allows you to place the siding in the position and to a mark that you have predetermined your length to be. The two guides on the jig always allows the saw to move across the marked spot. This tool provides a professional finish, making it possible for the siding to be visible on the front if necessary.