A fire destroyed a NY donation center in July: What will happen to Corning ReStore

Jeff Smith, Corning Leader
·1 min read

The Habitat for Humanity Corning ReStore has been closed for nearly two weeks after a fire destroyed part of the facility on July 20.

Steuben County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Steven Daniels said the ReStore will be closed until further notice.

The fire broke out at about 6 p.m., July 20, at the ReStore building on state Route 414, destroying the donation center and causing extensive smoke damage to the sales floor and Habitat offices.

A look at the damage caused to a section of the donation center at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore by the fire
A look at the damage caused to a section of the donation center at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore by the fire

Tim Marshall, Steuben County Director of Public Safety, said the cause of the fire is still unknown and under investigation by the Steuben County Fire Investigation Team.

The ReStore sells gently used donated and new items to the public at drastically reduced prices, Daniels said. Proceeds from the ReStore are used to fulfill Steuben County Habitat’s mission of building homes, community and hope.

Corning Community College students helped Habitat for Humanity Wednesday salvage what is left of the ReStore, which was badly damaged by a July fire.
Corning Community College students helped Habitat for Humanity Wednesday salvage what is left of the ReStore, which was badly damaged by a July fire.

Daniels said community support is needed to reopen the ReStore and continue work on the current Habitat home build sites.

“The quicker we get the needed donations the quicker we will be able to reopen the ReStore,” said Joy Overacker, a Habitat spokesperson. "All donations that come will be used to open the ReStore and continue to build homes, keeping us on track with our home building to make sure that families do not experience a delay due to the loss of ReStore funds."

The donation center building will have to be demolished due to the heavy damage it suffered during the blaze, according to Joy Overacker, a Habitat spokesperson. The sales floor and the offices space are not unstable and can be saved.
The donation center building will have to be demolished due to the heavy damage it suffered during the blaze, according to Joy Overacker, a Habitat spokesperson. The sales floor and the offices space are not unstable and can be saved.

Overacker said the Steuben County Habitat for Humanity is currently building two homes in the Corning, and one is scheduled to start in the early fall.

Donations can be made through the organization’s website at habitatcorning.org, or by mailing a donation to SCHFH, PO Box 800, Corning, NY, 14830.

This article originally appeared on The Leader: Corning ReStore remains closed after fire: How to help