Matt Boyne, a longtime resident of West Hartford, has opened the Hartford area’s first Habitat for Humanity ReStore, offering new and gently-used furniture, building materials and more at a fraction of retail cost.

Submitted by Marie McNamara, Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity 

Matt Boyne has opened the area’s first Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Submitted photo.

A lot has changed in West Hartford since resident Matt Boyne moved to town in Fourth Grade. His neighborhood school was Whitman Elementary, which is now the police station.  His Middle School was Plant, which is now senior housing. After graduating from Hall High, Matt went off to Dean Junior College, then Fairleigh Dickinson University and ultimately University of Hartford. He then settled in his hometown with his wife Carol and raised their sons James and Nicholas.

Matt is now the Operations Manager, and man behind the curtain, of Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity’s first in the region “ReStore.” The ReStore is a home improvement and donation center that sells new and gently-used furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances to the public at a fraction of their retail price.

Located just over the train tracks at 500 Cottage Grove Rd. in Bloomfield, Matt and his friendly ReStore Team have re-purposed this 22,000 square foot manufacturing facility into a retail gem, where the public can browse and shop with the assistance of the store’s helpful staff. The store held its grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Matt has over 30 years of related building experience having been employed as a millwork manager, manufacturing representative, project manager and salesman for various lumber yards and millwork companies. His experience will help The ReStore implement its innovative model of providing funding for the organization’s primary mission.

All ReStore proceeds will be used to build energy efficient homes which enhances the community and spreads hope throughout the Hartford area and around the world.

When asked about what this job means to him, Matt’s response was: “I never in my wildest dreams, thought I would be here. The mission, the people, the joy out of seeing hard work pay off – whether it’s working alongside Habitat homeowner’s earning their sweat equity hours, individual volunteers taking time out of their busy lives to DO GOOD, companies calling US to ask ‘How can we help?’ It never gets old. Our ReStore team is excited to meet the public and they should be proud of all we’ve accomplished in 3 short months of preparation.”

The public can support the Hartford Area Habitat ReStore in three ways:

Shop: The ReStore offers great deals on a variety of home improvement merchandise.

Donate: The ReStore provides an environmentally and socially responsible way to keep good, reusable materials out of the waste stream.

Volunteer: The ReStore is an opportunity for Hartford Habitat to engage volunteers of all ages.

Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity has completed over 200 homes in the Greater Hartford area since its founding in 1989, relying on donations and support from more than 50,000 volunteers from the community, area foundations, corporations, faith organizations, civic and professional associations, and schools. For more information please visit www.hartfordhabitat.org or call 860-541-2208.