The changing season always inspires us to change up things in our lives and in our homes. Now that the weather is cooling off just a bit, it can make us think about shopping for cozy new items that reflect our tastes. The good news is, there’s a way to breathe fresh air into your household decor without breaking the bank – and while feeling great about giving back to your own community.

If you haven’t checked out the Habitat for Humanity ReStore lately, here are five ways visiting your local ReStore is a worthwhile shopping trip.

1. When You Buy at the Restore, You Save a Bundle

Prices at the ReStore are often half or less than what you would find at a home improvement store, lumber yard, home décor store or housewares section. Moreover, you can find hidden treasures at a Habitat ReStore that just aren’t available at an ordinary retail outlet.

2. When You Buy at the Restore, It’s a Donation

The last time you bought a lamp at a fancy boutique or a set of cabinet hardware at your local home improvement store, did you feel great about where your money was going? That’s what is different about shopping at the local ReStore – shoppers can rest assured that their hard-earned money is a donation to an important organization that builds homes in partnership with families in need.

3. Donations Go Toward Building Affordable Homes in Your Community

The Lowcountry has an affordable housing crisis. According to the Charleston-Trident Association of Realtors, a family earning $60,000 would be unable to afford a median priced house in Summerville. Habitat for Humanity is doing everything possible to create lasting, sustainable communities for those who are burdened by the costs of real estate, which have doubled in our area since 2000. When shoppers choose to visit the ReStore and make a purchase, those funds go directly into building new communities. In other words, your dollars can help put a roof over someone’s head.

4. Your Support of Habitat Can Change the World

Because there are people who need affordable housing around the whole world, Habitat for Humanity is a global mission. When you shop at your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, a small part of the funds go outside the community to projects in developing nations where the Habitat mission is active. Currently, the organization is in 70 different countries, meaning a little bit of your dollars are likely to travel internationally.

5. You Can Bring Unwanted Items from Your Home Each Time You Shop

The ReStore is not just for taking home exciting new finds for your family to “ooh” and “aah” over – it’s also a fantastic place to donate the things that no longer suit your wants and needs. No longer in need of a piece of furniture, an early model toaster or the vase that used to be in the front hall? Bring them in, or have them picked up for free, and rest assured they will find another good home. While you’re at it, take a tax deduction!

Want to know more about your local Habitat for Humanity and ReStore in Dorchester County? Visit DorchesterHabitat.org.