Meet ReStore CORE Volunteer: Larry Kent

Meet Larry Kent, a longtime volunteer with Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity's ReStore team. Larry has been a staple in our ReStore for many years, and we recently caught up with him to discuss his experience volunteering with our organization.

What year did you start volunteering with Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity?
I believe it was the summer, probably July or August of 2014, that my church got a group together to spend a Saturday at the ReStore, cleaning up items and putting away merchandise as directed. There were about 12 of us, and we were each doing something different and then switching around, so that we each did all of the appointed tasks. It was a really fun situation for each of us.

I was cleaning paint off glass panels and had made the statement that it was a waste of time using a razor blade to clean off the panels and it would be a lot quicker to just replace them. One of the staff members that happened to be in the area stated that it was by far cheaper to utilize the volunteers to help clean off the glass as it only costs us a few rags and razor blades, whereas the glass is really quite expensive. Volunteers cost us nothing but are able to give us so much!! I got to thinking about what he said and thought "wow—there is a lot of truth in that statement", and pretty well had decided at that point that I was going to check into doing some volunteer work there as I was enjoying the different tasks I had been doing.

What is your favorite memory with IVHFH?
My inquiring as to what they needed for help got me into the receiving room on Wednesdays and Saturdays for assistance with items coming in. I was directed in where the items went in the store and in pricing them out. One of the items that had come in and was priced, was a sheet metal chicken that had come from an old barn and was nicely weathered, and about three feet tall. An interesting piece of stamped sheet metal that had been priced at $75.00. After looking it over, I made the statement that it was a great antique and should bring in more and was told to redo the price. I did reprice it at $195.00 and put it out on the floor. Someone asked later what I had put on it and I told them $195.00 and about 15 minutes later it went out the front door!

After this, the guys and gals there would come to me and ask about the older items that came in, "What is this?" "What's it used for?" "What's it worth?" It has been fun in dealing with those that come in and ask for a special item and you can say, "Yes, I believe we have that this time. Let's go see." The opposite shows up once in a while also, in that someone gets upset that an item they had looked at just a short time earlier, was no longer available. That is one of the things about ReStore: if you don't find it there now, wait around half hour or so as it's bound to change. But, if you see something you like now, don't hesitate as it will probably be gone when you come back through the store!

If you could give advice to any new volunteers or individuals who are on the fence about volunteering, what would you tell them?
ReStore seems to have something for nearly anyone to do as a donor, as a buyer, or as a fun volunteer!! The volunteer jobs are varied and many, so there is something for anyone to work with. I'm working on my 90th birthday in a couple of months so, if I can do it, so can many others. We all make mistakes too, a few weeks ago Thorin (ReStore Director) said he sure would have liked to purchase that stainless steel bucket for $4.00 that I had priced it at! It should have been $8.00!

What drives you to continue to volunteer with us?
It's been a great job to work with some wonderful people, to see some strange items come in the receiving door and even go out the front door, and to deal with the public in finding some strange items, too! It's a job that I hope I can continue!

Thank you, Larry, for all of your hard work and dedication to Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity! We are so thankful to have you as a volunteer and know that you are always willing to lend a hand when needed!