It's like walking through a really big scavenger hunt. Items are neatly organized, piled high and ready to be bought.
Karen Jayne runs the non-profit Stardust Building Supplies, a warehouse full of household items salvaged from Valley homes.
"A lot of it is re-usable, especially if it was remodeled after 1980," said Jayne. "Those cabinets were constructed in a way that's easily removable."
Here's how it works: Teams go into homes and deconstruct things like kitchens and bathrooms at no cost to the homeowner. All of those items are then sorted and brought to the warehouse where it's re-sold at deep discounts, often 50-to-80 percent cheaper than you'd buy in a retail store. It's great for the consumer, but it also keeps all of the items out of the landfill.
"We've diverted over 80-million pounds in the last 20 years," according to Jayne.
Appliances, windows, doors, lighting, toilets and sinks and even more line the aisles. Stardust also has a program for other non-profits, letting them come in to the shop by appointment.
"It has distributed over $21-million worth of usable material back into the community to help folks in need," said Jayne. The items are gently used and sometimes brand new.
Shop and Donate at three Valley locations:
Mesa
1720 W. Broadway Road
Mesa, AZ 85202
480-668-0566
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Phoenix
3901 E. Thunderbird Road
Phoenix, AZ 85032
602-459-9803
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Glendale
5150 W. Northern Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85301
602-424-1575
More information can be found online at stardustbuilding.org
