Volunteer Gunner Myrbeck, Restore Manager Andrew Smith and Volunteers Jim Moore and Dan Myrbeck take a break and stand with a salvaged door near their van.

More lots for patients, visitors

NORWAY – The recent announcement by Stephens Memorial Hospital to raze several older buildings, in order to provide expanded parking for patients and visitors, will benefit nonprofit organizations.

The hospital contracted with a Portland salvage company to sell the historical architectural components of the homes and offered siding, windows and other building materials of value to Habitat for Humanity. The Norway Fire Department will also conduct a training exercise for local firefighters prior to the demolition of the buildings.

Timothy A. Churchill, hospital official, said, “In these economic times, it is gratifying to us to help the local community and some of the nonprofit organizations such as the fire department and Habitat for Humanity. We want to be good corporate citizens for the communities we serve.”

Thanks in part to Vice President of Human Resources Roberta Metivier’s idea and planning, a group from Habitat for Humanity of Cumberland County was on site to salvage building materials from the houses on Nov. 5. The items will either be used in the building of homes or will be for sale in the Restore building supply store in Portland for families to purchase. The proceeds from the Restore also benefit the building of homes for families in need as the revenues are used to purchase land. Last year, proceeds were able to build an additional house for a family. This year, Restore Donation Procurement Manager Andrew Smith said they are hoping to build two additional homes.

Smith said, “Opportunities like these are a wonderful asset to Restore and Habitat for Humanity of greater Portland. Making these affordable materials available to the Maine public is as important as the revenue that they produce in the building of affordable housing across the state. Maine is blessed with the greatest in old housing stock available in the country and the quality is as good as it gets.”

Salvaging building materials from existing structures is beneficial to the environment as well as Maine families, Smith said, “Our mission through Restore also conserves landfill space. Through purchases or donations, we are doing our part to help keep our communities greener.”