About

The RE Store is non-profit program with a retail location in the Fountain District of Bellingham. We exist to divert as much reusable material as possible from the landfill and to build a culture of reuse in our community. Our retail location features salvaged and reclaimed building materials, vintage decor, and a facility to receive lightly used donated items. The RE Store was founded in 1993 and is a program of RE Sources, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. RE Sources’ vision is to see people living satisfying lives in accord with the ecosystem we depend on – generation after generation.

In the 1990s, a group of dedicated community members got together to brainstorm ways to keep valuable reclaimed building materials from ending up in the landfill. From their ideas, The RE Store was born. Each year we:

• Save the community over $1 million in building materials costs,
• Divert over 2.7 million pounds of quality building supplies from the landfill, and
• Provide more than 1,500 hours of accessible on-the-job training opportunities.

Our core values

Reuse: We exist to divert reusable building materials from the landfill. We salvage and renew furniture and building materials with our Salvage Services. We recover and use manufacturing byproducts with our Manufacturing Waste Diversion Program. We only stock repairable, reusable furniture and building materials in our store. By encouraging reuse we help decrease our carbon footprint and provide affordable, high-quality materials for shoppers of all income levels. 

Community: We wouldn’t exist without our community of staff, shoppers, supporters, trainees, and volunteers. Our goal is to serve this community by breaking down barriers; barriers to affordable materials, to economic opportunity, to access, inclusion and justice. This is why we stand against racism, white supremacy, injustice, and the ingrained structures and institutions that enable and perpetuate them. We center BIPOC, LGBTQ+, trans, and economically displaced people in every decision we make.

Resilience: We foster resilience by preserving history through reuse and by providing affordable materials that empower anyone to repair and maintain their homes. We are committed to the resiliency of Bellingham residents. Because of this, we developed the Community Jobs Training Program to decrease the barriers to meaningful employment. This program provides paid, on-site job training to economically disadvantaged members of our community. We are so grateful for the diverse set of perspectives and skills that they bring to our team.

Meet the team

Our staff are known for their friendly demeanor, extensive knowledge of home improvement, and their great beards. Learn a bit more about us below or visit our contact page to say hi.

Program Staff

Whether it’s exploring new and exciting partnerships, inspiring our community to build from reclaimed materials or providing opportunities for job trainees, our program staff work hard to support all aspects our organization’s operations.

The RE Store Staff

Our retail staff accept and process donations, help our customers choose just the right item, and inspire our community with creative ways to re-use. Visit our store page for more information.

Salvage Services crew

With over 40 years of combined experience in the art of dismantling for reuse, our licensed and insured crew is able to salvage up to 90% of a structure’s desired parts. The friendly faces of our crew operate our pick-up and Salvage Services. Visit the Salvage Services page for more information.