In the back of the Glenwood Habitat ReStore, Core Volunteer Dan Mrotek carefully assembles what he calls "Frankenstein furniture,” or pieces built from a variety of materials. If a tabletop arrives without legs, he crafts new ones. If legs arrive without a top, he builds one to match. Sometimes, he creates new pieces entirely from scratch.
Dan has been volunteering at the Glenwood ReStore since it opened in 2018. “I naturally gravitated toward fixing and making things,” Dan said.
Over time, the store accumulated more and more tools, and now there is a full woodshop in the back room.
Dan's passion for woodworking started young. He began helping his father when he was just five years old and was using power tools by age eight. His grandfather is also a great inspiration. He was a skilled woodworker specializing in dollhouses and toys.
Dan is a mechanical engineer, and his background helps him figure out how things work and how he can improve them. That expertise shines through in his volunteer work.
“In a few days, we can create thousands of dollars' worth of items to be resold,” he said.
For those interested in tackling DIY projects at home, Dan offers a few beginner tips:
Dan and his wife, who also volunteers at the Glenwood ReStore, have built a strong community with fellow volunteers.
“We don’t schedule anything for Tuesdays and Thursdays,” Dan said. “We even plan our vacations around those days because volunteering at the ReStore is so important to us.”
When volunteering at the ReStore, you can expect to do a variety of tasks. While organizing, cleaning, helping shoppers and taking in donations may be the most common, you never know what tasks might pop up on any given day!
“If you visit our store, you'll see how organized and welcoming it is. The staff and volunteers work hard to keep it that way. We all share the same mentality; we want our store to look its best every day.”
If you’re interested in signing up to volunteer at your nearest ReStore, visit the Volunteer Hub to register!
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