This spring we welcomed Marlene Liu to our Habitat family into the role of Greenfield ReStore Manager. Learn more about Marlene below!
What are your primary roles at Habitat?
My primary role at Indy Habitat as the Greenfield ReStore Manager is being responsible for the overall operations of the retail store, actively supporting the HFH mission by building relationships in our communities with donors and customers, planning growth in sales revenue while minimizing operating costs, managing donations and pickups and merchandising new and gently used construction materials and household goods. I provide leadership and motivation to the store staff and volunteers as well as working collaboratively with the other ReStores both in our affiliate area and in surrounding counties.
What makes your space “home”?
Two things that help make my space home: original artwork and gardening. I am fortunate to have some very creative artist friends whose work I support and fill my walls and shelves with. Bringing my outdoor space into my home makes me happy! I have several flower and bulb gardens as well as raised vegetable and fruit beds so having cut flowers and bowls of fresh produce make my home smell great. One of the first things I did in Greenfield is to rescue some forlorn plants inside and we are cleaning up the front flower beds so our outside is inviting to our customers.
What’s your favorite tool to use?
I am always looking for my hammer and screwdrivers; mostly to hang up pictures or fix a piece of furniture. The screwdrivers can sometimes double as handy weed extractors!
Why do you build homes, communities and hope?
When I was 19, I went with friends of mine to their small home town in Jalisco, Mexico for a vacation between school semesters, but spent the whole time helping to build an elementary school and a teacher’s dormitory. A few months after I got home, I got an envelope full of letters and pictures from parents and students with notes of appreciation. Nine years later, I received a letter from one of the students who attended that school and was inviting me to his college graduation where he was getting his degree in industrial engineering. He told me that he and other classmates had been volunteering since they were 13 helping to build homes and schools near their home town. Knowing that I had a small part in helping to encourage others to assist in providing shelter has led me to volunteer with HFH builds where I lived. And now, working with the ReStores in educating our staff, volunteers, donors and customers as to how their donations and purchases support the vision and funding of building homes is the best way I can continue to provide hope in our communities.
Please join us in welcoming Marlene to our Habitat family!
