QUILCENE — Vintage china, woven-back chairs, quilt tops, music cabinets — if you are into antique chic, there are many reasons to visit the new Habitat for Humanity Store in Quilcene.
But for Jamie Maciejewski, it’s not about style.
Maciejewski, director of Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County, joined volunteers and local residents to celebrate the store’s opening Friday and remember the reasons behind creating it.
“One, it helps fill a vacant storefront that will get people to stop and shop,” Maciejewski said.
“Two, it provides a place for people to come and find help for their own housing needs.
Reviving neighborhoods
“And three, it raises money for the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative — nothing is purchased, everything is donated and all the money raised will be used in the local community.”
Quilcene is the pilot community for Habitat’s three-year Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, begun this year, which will build and remodel homes for needy families, as well as provide other programs.
The store’s launch team — Kathi Boyker, Jane David, Jane Laptad and Mary Schmidt — cut the red ribbon with help from volunteer Lynn Thompson, Debbie Williams of the Quilcene/Brinnon Chamber of Commerce, and David Eekhoff, Habitat/EJC board vice president.
Eekhoff commended the team, which spent more than 200 hours during the past month and half to get the store open.
“The donation of your work, your time and your effort is immeasurable,” Eekhoff said.
Shoppers mobbed the store even before the ribbon-cutting, carting off treasures.
Cheryl Sorenson, whose family is visiting from Idaho, scooped up a set of Noritake china for $55.
Gary Lemons bought a Mickey Mouse tray for $9.
Diane Gowman of Brinnon scored a wrought-iron patio chair for $15, a food sieve and other vintage kitchen items.
Like many of the shoppers at the opening, Gowman and her husband, Ken, are volunteering in the store, they said.
The reasons: It’s fun, it gives back to the community and it’s a chance to meet people, Diane said.
“Plus just makes you feel good,” Ken said.
“Charity is a barter system — you’re giving and taking with someone else, not just money.”
More than 100
Vicki Lucas, manager of the Port Townsend Habitat Furniture and More Store, estimated that 100 people came through the Quilcene store in the first hour.
Among them were Lorna Ward and Betty Hughes, both of Quilcene, and Shona Davis, former co-owner of the building.
Davis operated the Cruisin’ 101 Cafe in the space until it closed in 2007.
Her husband, Loren, did the remodeling of the space for the Habitat store after they sold the building to Chuck Thrasher, a Habitat volunteer, in May.
Cassandra Johnson, a VISTA volunteer who is heading the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, was recognized at the opening for her work.
Laptad baked the cake and served it, along with punch, gingerbread and sugar cookies shaped like houses.
Habitat of East Jefferson County has helped build 22 homes and recycled two since starting in 1998, providing homes for 24 families, including 55 children, in Port Townsend and Port Hadlock, the agency says.
Long-held dream
Eekhoff said that having the store in Quilcene is part of a long-held dream to bring Habitat’s work to other parts of the county.
“It really is an East Jefferson Habitat for Humanity now,” Maciejewski said.
Habitat for Humanity offers free pickup of furniture, appliances and large items on Tuesday in Port Townsend and throughout the county on Thursday, with Thursday’s items going to the Quilcene store.
The Quilcene Habitat store is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to
5 p.m.
Donations are accepted on Thursdays during those hours.
For more information, go to www.habitatejc.org or phone 360-379-2827.
________
Jennifer Jackson is a freelance writer and photographer living in Port Townsend.