30 December 2024, El Paso, Texas, Steven Zimmerman – Have you ever heard of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore? According to the ReStore website, “The Habitat ReStore is not just your regular thrift store. The ReStore stocks items to improve the homes of its customers while raising funds to build the homes of our Partner Families.”
“Funds raised by the ReStore are applied directly toward El Paso’s Habitat’s mission to build homes in our community.”
In Northeast El Paso, Texas, at 8500 Dyer, there is a Habitat for Humanity ReStore that strives to serve the community while helping to raise money to build homes for qualifying, low-income families.
To help achieve that mission, the El Paso ReStore picks up items from stores such as Lowe’s Home Improvement and individuals who want to donate items to support the ReStore’s mission. Those pick-ups have hit a snag.
According to Nancy Gomes, the manager, on December 23, 2024, around 7:30 AM, a bad actor decided to break into the box truck the ReStore uses for collections and deliveries.
The individual who broke into the truck damaged the lock on the box truck and wall attachments where the ratchet set was hanging on the inside wall.
“The person who broke into the truck,” says Nancy Gomez, “took all the tools, ratchet set, tool bag with drill, screwdrivers, wrenches. All of it.”
Ms. Gomez says that replacing the items taken will be an additional cost that the Habitat for Humanity ReStore must cover. “We must pay between $300 to $350 to repurchase our tools.”
“We are a non-profit that works for the community we serve,” says Nancy Gomez. Now, the funds to replace these tools will come from funds that would have gone towards a project we would do.”
These projects include critical repairs for older people and people with disabilities, building homes, remodeling bathrooms, and placing walk-in showers for those who can no longer step into a bathtub.
What is the cost of replacing everything that was taken? Ms. Gomez said, “This will be an estimated $300-$350 to replace all the tools and a new heavy-duty lock.”
The following video was provided by Nancy Gomez of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
“The time and date are off,” says Nancy Gomez. We had to calculate backward for the time of the incident.” All footage would have been deleted if the time had been corrected before downloading the videos.
If you have any information that may lead to the arrest of the bad actor involved in this incident, please call the Northeast Regional Command Center at 915-212-8100.
Supporting the ReStore and helping them recover from this incident would go a long way to improving their day and helping them achieve their mission of helping others. You can contact the ReStore at 915-706-5060 or visit them at 8500 Dyer.