Amid cabinetry, appliances, light fixtures and tools for sale at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore shop in Portland, area Realtors raised $9,500 with live and silent auctions to benefit a Habitat neighborhood being built in Scarborough.

“There are 13 homes that are going to be built out of this in Scarborough,” said Greater Portland Board of Realtors (GPBR) board member Paula Broydrick.

“This event gets people here at the ReStore to get the community to get familiar with the ReStore, what it is and what it offers the community,” said Lisa DiBiase, owner of Landing Real Estate.

“Everything we sell here is donated to us by individuals, contractors and manufacturers,” said Godfrey Wood, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland. “Then the public comes in and purchase items for renovations.”

“One of the ways that Habitat for Humanity raises funds for our programs is to have ReStores,” said Alexa Plotkin, manager of the Portland ReStore. “ReStore shops are the biggest fundraiser for Habitat in the Greater Portland area, and the GPBR has been supporting us for years.”

“Those funds allow us to build homes for those in need,” said Raylene Estabrook, president elect of GPBR. “Realtors do build communities, and that goes for all spectrums.”

“It’s the American dream,” added GPBR board member Adrienne Murphy.

“Realtors have been incredibly instrumental in helping Habitat grow,” said Steve Thomas, a Habitat for Humanity partner best known for hosting “This Old House” and “Renovation Nation.”

“This Habitat affiliate is a lender, a builder, a retailer and a landlord,” Wood said, explaining that Habitat’s goal is to get people into safe, decent and attainable homes.

The neighborhood being built at Carpenter Court in Scarborough will include Habitat for Humanity homes as well as homes being built by Scarborough Housing Alliance with different qualifying requirements. Volunteers from GPBR will be working on the build site May 20-27.

Amy Paradysz is a freelance writer and editor based in Scarborough. She can be contacted at:

amyparadysz@gmail.com