Lafayette Habitat for Humanity has been building houses in Acadiana since 1992, and this year, it will celebrate the completion of its one hundredth home. The buyers of these homes are hardworking families who invest hundreds of hours preparing for homeownership, both on and off the construction site. In return, Habitat serves as their contractor and lender, financing them via affordable mortgages that are then “recycled” to help other people in need.

Recycling, in fact, seems to be a common theme for Lafayette Habitat for Humanity. One hundred percent of the proceeds gained from ReStore, Habitat’s home improvement thrift store, are similarly “recycled” right back into the organization so that it can assist as many people as possible.

Here’s how it works: Individuals and businesses make tax-deductible donations of new or gently used home goods and building materials. Volunteers help pick up, sort, and prepare those items for sale. Shoppers scour the store for bargains, and Habitat then collects the money from their purchases and donates it all to its own homeownership program. So the more items Habitat sells at ReStore, the more houses it can build—and the more people it can help.

Through ReStore and other funding efforts, Lafayette Habitat for Humanity is able to restore both the homes and hope of locals in need.