Winchester will be adding another discounted stop to shop at the Colby Station Shopping Center.

Habitat for Humanity of Madison and Clark Counties announced last week plans to open a Habitat for Humanity ReStore with a potential opening day of July 5, Michael Richardson, the director of the Richmond ReStore, said.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center that sells new and gently-used furniture, appliances, home accessories, building materials and more to the public at a fraction of the retail price, according to Habitat for Humanity’s website.

“All of the proceeds go back into the organization to build homes in Madison and Clark counties,” Richardson said.

There are also ReStores in Richmond, Lexington, Georgetown, Florence, Bellevue and Louisville. There are about 900 ReStores nationwide.

With the ReStore coming in, there will be a multitude of opportunities for the county, Richardson said.

“There’s an opportunity for employment, opportunity to volunteer, an opportunity for the community to donate and keep those dollars in the community,” he said.

Richardson said he hopes the visible presence in Habitat for Humanity will make folks aware they can apply for housing through the organization.��

The local Habitat affiliate has built more than 100 affordable housing solutions in Winchester, Berea and Richmond, according to the website. The group continues to develop or rehab three to five homes per year.

Jennifer Gormley, fund development manager for Habitat for Humanity of Madison and Clark counties, said volunteers with the Women Build program will help prepare the ReStore space May 12.

“It’s designed to specifically draw attention to affordable housing especially in the female population,” Gormley said.

Gormley said this would be the second time the affiliate has participated in the National Women Build Week, which runs from May 6-12, leading up to Mother’s Day.

National Women Build Week events are entering their 10th year, with about 98,000 women participating nationwide.

National Women Build Week, sponsored annually by Lowe’s, challenges women from all walks of life to help eliminate substandard housing, Gormley said in an email.

Each May, thousands of volunteers join in Women Build days at Habitat affiliates. National Women Build Week helps Habitat raise awareness and recruit more volunteers to accomplish its mission, she said.

One of the goals for National Women Build Week is to create national awareness of the program and illustrate how women support the Habitat home-building mission, Gormley said.  

“Our affiliation’s goal is to recruit, educate and nurture women to build and advocate for simple, decent, affordable housing in our community,” she said.

Winchester’s Lowe’s will host a workshop today to help prepare volunteers for the build site.

Gormley said she expects to have at least 50 volunteers, so far there are about 25 signed up and several organizations committed to join the Women Build volunteers Saturday, May 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

However, anyone can participate, Hope Broecker, volunteer engagement specialist at Habitat for Humanity, said. Broecker said she hopes to have about 50 percent or more participation to be women, but all are welcome to volunteer.

The project highlights the issue of access to affordable housing particularly for women in Clark County, Gormley said.

The Women Build program is a way to unify people around an issue that can affect the entire county, she said.

“The project helps Habitat for Humanity build a sustainable community,” Gormley said. “It’s a huge resource and a way to build awareness of affordable housing issues.”