The Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Riviera Beach, Florida, opened its doors this week following a month‑long shutdown after severe flooding in September. Six inches of water inundated the building, ruining more than 90% of the store’s inventory – roughly the equivalent of fifty truckloads of furniture, clothing, and household goods.

Volunteer effort clears the damage

Habitat volunteers rallied for days, pulling out water, removing damaged items, and even replacing drywall to make the space safe again. “The community has come out in full force to help us donate,” said John Hrinda, a spokesperson for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County. “People came out and helped. I had people just driving by saying, ‘Can we help?'”

Donations flow back in

As cleanup progressed, new donations began to arrive, allowing the ReStore to restock with fresh furniture, clothing, and other household items. Hrinda noted that the influx of contributions has been essential to getting the store back to full operation. “It’s a lot of hard work, but I really am happy with my team and the community,” he added.

Revenue supports affordable housing

The ReStore’s sales fund Habitat for Humanity’s core mission of building affordable homes for families in need. “We are still looking for a lot of donations because we want to continue the mission of Habitat for Humanity,” Hrinda said, emphasizing the ongoing need for community support.

Looking ahead

With the store now open, Habitat for Humanity hopes the renewed flow of donations will sustain both the ReStore and the broader housing projects it finances. The organization encourages residents of Riviera Beach and the surrounding Palm Beach County area to visit the store, contribute items, or make monetary gifts.

For more information on how to donate or volunteer, readers can contact Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County directly.

Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.