Fort Leavenworth
Habitat ReStore
As new housing is being constructed around Fort Leavenworth, old housing is being deconstructed. Deconstruction is the process of hand dismantling and salvaging useable portions of rooms or buildings. Kansas City-based Habitat ReStore, a non-profit organization linked to Habitat for Humanity, has been deconstructing Fort Leavenworth's Kickapoo Village since August 2007. Habitat ReStore's mission is to support the construction of houses by Kansas City Habitat for Humanity through the collection and sale of new and used building materials diverted from the waste stream, keeping them out of our landfills and in circulation where they can benefit the Kansas City community. They recover kitchen cabinets, appliances, water heaters, toilets, vanities, countertops and windows. These items are donated to the Habitat Store where they can be purchased at a discounted rate to the surrounding community.
- Mission Many veterans have benefited from the items that were deconstructed from Fort Leavenworth. Retired veterans regularly shop at the store, as well as active Guard and Army Reserve members. Five veterans work for Habitat ReStore.
- Community The usable materials recovered during deconstruction are sold at a discounted price in the Habitat ReStore warehouse. The materials recovered from Fort Leavenworth will help 150-200 people in the surrounding community. In 2008, Habitat ReStore donated more than $500,000 to Habitat for Humanity projects in the surrounding community.
- Environment Materials are diverted from the waste stream and are kept out of landfills. The Fort Leavenworth project will divert approximately 48.3 tons of material from the landfill.
The Habitat ReStore crew has deconstructed 88 units on Fort Leavenworth over three weeks and has averaged nearly $1,850 per day in materials recovered. They expect to recover approximately $30,000 in materials from the fort over the course of the project.
Habitat ReStore: 816-231-6889
Visit Habitat ReStore–Kansas City website