$20K Grant Awarded To Fox Valley Habitat For Humanity

AURORA, IL — Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity received a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, officials announced.

The funds will go toward purchasing the equipment and materials needed to install an e-commerce business in the Fox Valley Habitat ReStore located at 2302 W. Indian Trail Road in Aurora, according to a news release.

Rev. Jeffrey Barrett, the CEO and executive director of Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity, said the grant will also allow the nonprofit organization to receive local donations and sell and ship them worldwide using state-of-the-art software and merchandising posting techniques.

"Receiving and selling more merchandise increases our ability to provide a hand up and not a hand out to hard-working families who are the foundation of our community," he said in a statement.

ReStore, on Aurora's west side, is independently owned and operated by Habitat. Described by the organization as "more than just a resale store," the shop helps fund Habitat's mission to build homes for families in need.

Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity will also see additional funding thanks to Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL), who represents the 11th Congressional District. The Montgomery-based organization will receive $1,250,000 that will used to provide the infrastructure for the neighborhood, including water and sewer lines, streets, sidewalks and stormwater mitigation, according to Foster's office.

The Community Project Funding request for Habitat was one of 15 Foster made on behalf of the 11th District of Illinois that were included in a year-end omnibus spending bill totaling $25,821,367.