Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County ReStores Empower Special Needs Individuals

Individuals with special needs often have difficulty gaining work experience and finding employment. In Bucks County, the Habitat for Humanity ReStores provide a place for diversified learners and those with special needs to gain experience in the real world. Volunteers from The Comprehensive Learning Center, Bucks County I.U., Foundations Behavioral Health, Shared Support, and other organizations obtain valuable work experience at the ReStores.

“Our diverse learner population benefits greatly from the opportunity to be more independent, gaining confidence and developing their communication and interpersonal skills in our ReStores,” says Colleen Brink, Volunteer & Outreach Director, Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County. “We want area families and organizations to know that we support the needs of individuals and empower them by offering them a place to build their life and work skills.”

Connor is a weekly volunteer at both the Langhorne and Chalfont ReStores and he comes from The Comprehensive Learning Center in Southampton. He is glad to take advantage of this opportunity to develop job skills.

“Connor looks forward to his work days at the Habitat ReStore,” says his mom, Judy. “It's important to him to be productive and valued, and the staff treat him as part of the team. He is proud to give back to the community that has given him so much. So it's a win-win all the way around!”

“The staff at the ReStore have created an invaluable connection with the Comprehensive Learning Center (CLC),” says Lanae Jones, Adult Program Staff. “This relationship affords our learners with the opportunity to build a repertoire of vocational work skills and provides them with an opportunity to practice these skills outside of the school setting.”

“At the ReStore, our learners are practicing to maintain appropriate behavior in the community, follow directions, and remain engaged for a specified duration while completing a wide variety of work tasks,” explains Jones. “The environment at the ReStore is inviting and flexible, allowing our staff the ability to plan and implement the systematic introduction of skills, and allow the use and manipulation of individualized schedules of reinforcement for each learner. We feel very fortunate to have built this relationship with the ReStore and are looking forward to continuing to be a part of this generous organization.”

Individuals and organizations that want to volunteer or donate items to the ReStore, please call (215) 822-2708 or stop in the Habitat for Humanity ReStore located at 1337 E Lincoln Hwy in Langhorne or the Restore at 31 Oak Avenue, Suite 100 in Chalfont.

The Bucks County ReStores in Langhorne and Chalfont are socially conscious home improvement donation stores that sell both new and gently used furniture, cabinets, appliances, building supplies, housewares, decor and more at a fraction of the retail price to the general public. Proceeds from the ReStores enable Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County to build more homes, and help others renovate and repair their homes at prices they can afford.