A while back, Newell wrote a story about Habitat for Humanity's ReStore outlet on Amherst Street. While he extolled the virtues of the store, he also lamented the unfriendly outside of the shop - so very opposite from what one finds within - and its lack of decent signage.
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Brendan Ryan, an Americorps volunteer with ReStore contacted us yesterday to say that Meredeth Lavelle, of Lavelle & Lavelle Signs and Graphics, saw the story and offered to make signs for Habitat at no cost! (See comment #3 in Newell's story.)
Brendan says the signs were hung last week- one on the Amherst side and one at the loading dock - and he wanted to thank Meredeth, her husband John, and Buffalo Rising for making the signs possible.
Brendan says there is still a lot of work to do on the building, but notes that this is a great first step. We agree wholeheartedly.
Leave it to Newell to make a sound suggestion, and a member of the community to fill the need.
And there's more: N. Glantz and Son Sign Supplies on Sonwil Drive came up with the lexan used to make the sign, so it was a full community effort to help this not-for-profit. It's a series of selfless acts, like this that makes Buffalo the City of Good Neighbors. Kudos!
Habitat Restore . 501 Amherst Street . 852.6607
LaVelle & Lavelle Signs and Graphics . 491.3875
Please consider volunteering for this very worthwhile organization, either at the ReStore or at one of the new build or rehab sites in Buffalo or Lackawanna. To see the results of this work in the faces of the families who gain decent housing, and to work alongside the families and other volunteers, is truly rewarding. And for you skeptics out there - I'm told by officers of Habitat Buffalo that the default/foreclosure rate is much lower than in the general population. This is no doubt due largely to the rigorous qualification and education process the prospective homeowners must go through, and the 500 hours sweat equity requirement, in order to be placed on the Habitat client list.