Rhea Stumm Named New Manager for Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Rhea Stumm is the new ReStore manager. She is welcomed by Dennis Baxter, executive director of Habitat for Humanity San Bernardino Area, Inc.
(Redlands, CA) Rhea Stumm is the new manager for at the Habitat for Humanity San Bernardino Area, Inc.’s ReStore.
The ReStore is the Habitat for Humanity’s deep discount home improvement store that sells building materials, appliances, home accessories, and gently used furniture to the general public from 23,000 square feet of space.
“The ReStore accepts donated goods, building materials, appliances, home accessories, and gently used furniture. We then sell the donated items to the general public at a fraction of the retail price,” said Stumm.
All proceeds are used to fund the Habitat for Humanity San Bernardino Area, Inc. efforts to rehabilitate old homes or construction of new homes for needy families.
“Rhea will do an excellent job as the Habitat for Humanity ReStore manager,” said Dennis Baxter, executive director of Habitat for Humanity San Bernardino Area, Inc. He added, “Rhea is up to the challenge. I am certain you will see some very positive changes in our retail operations.”
One of Stumm’s new ideas is the ReStore Deal of the Day. “We will post one item a day that is a great deal on our FaceBook page at Facebook.com/SBReStore. Those that subscribe to our mailing list will also receive emails with the ReStore Deal of the Day,” she said.
The ReStore’s first Deal of the Day is set to start February 1st. The store will sell porcelain door knob sets for just one dollar. “They originally sold for $15 complete with locking mechanisms. “We have had about 100 sets in stock for more than three months, its time to move them out!,” said Stumm.
Stumm has worked for Habitat for Humanity for two years. Her previous position was development and communications manager.
Stumm joined Habitat for Humanity before the ReStore opened in June of 2011. She helped set up the ReStore including the product placement before the Grand Opening in August of 2011.
Working at a non-profit organization is not new to Stumm. She has been volunteering since she was in the eighth grade. Stumm continued to volunteer in high school and college.
“I went to Vietnam in the eighth grade and again as a junior in high school. I saw people living in grass huts and in terrible living conditions. It’s one of the reasons I volunteer,” said Stumm.
Born and raised in Bakersfield, Stumm moved to Riverside to attend the University of California at Riverside in 2003.
Stumm graduated from UCR in 2007 earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She then went to Louisiana State University of Shreveport and received a certificate in Nonprofit Management in 2009.
After graduating from UCR in 2007, she joined AmeriCorps and traveled the country working with non-profit organizations, including FEMA, Red Cross, The Boys and Girls Club, 211, Habitat for Humanity in Florida, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
“After college, I wanted to travel and I wanted to make a difference. AmeriCorps gave me the opportunity to do both,” said Stumm.
No stranger to hard work, she worked in some of the country’s worst natural disasters. Stumm has seen people at their best and their worst. She worked with FEMA in 2008 during Iowa’s Cedar Rapids floods and becoming certified as a forklift driver.
In 2008, Stumm helped after three hurricanes. She worked with Habitat for Humanity in Florida after Hurricane Katrina. “I helped build houses for displaced families after the hurricane,“ said Stumm.
In August of 2008 while in Beaumont, Texas for Habitat for Humanity, Stumm’s group was moved to Dallas to escape hurricanes, Ike and Gustav. They returned after the hurricane to help with clean up and continue to build homes.
“You will love the deals you find on building materials, appliances, home accessories, and gently used furniture materials!” said Stumm.
Stumm invites the public especially homeowners and maintenance professionals to visit the Habitat for Humanity ReStore Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 25948 Business Center Drive in Redlands, CA 92374.
“You will love the deals you find on building materials, appliances, home accessories, and gently used furniture materials!” said Stumm.
For more information on Habitat for Humanity San Bernardino Area, Inc., or the ReStore call (909) 478-1176 or go online to www.HabitatSB.org.
About Habitat for Humanity San Bernardino Area, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity San Bernardino Area is the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a faith-based nonprofit organization that works in partnership with families to strengthen communities and transform lives by building new homes, rehabilitating existing homes, and making affordable home ownership a reality for community members in need.
The San Bernardino Area affiliate serves the communities of Redlands, Loma Linda, Fontana, San Bernardino, Highland, Yucaipa, Colton, Bloomington, Rialto, Grand Terrace, Mentone, Running Springs, Lake Arrowhead, Apple Valley and Victorville.
The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a deep discount home improvement store that sells building materials, appliances, home accessories, and furniture. The ReStore accepts donated goods, which are sold to the general public at a fraction of the retail price. All proceeds are used to fund the administration and rehabilitation or construction of Habitat for Humanity homes.
To find out more about Habitat for Humanity, call 909-478-1176 or visit www.HabitatSB.org. We also ask you to LIKE us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/habitatsb.
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