Habitat for Humanity San Luis Obispo County (Habitat SLO) is proud to announce the success of its annual Build With Us fundraiser, which brought together community members, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters for an unforgettable evening of giving—and raised over $90,000 in support of Home Preservation, Affordable Housing, and Neighborhood Revitalization Programs.

Held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the scenic Edna Valley Ranch and presented by Mechanics Bank, Build With Us combined live music from the Ryan Delmore Band, dinner by Trumpet Vine Catering, a lively program emceed by Neil Herbert, a wine pull, silent auction, and live auction called by auctioneer Cody Dawson featuring exclusive experiences and one-of-a-kind items. The highlight of the evening was hearing from the son of one of the new Paso Robles Habitat Homeowners.

“The most poignant moment of the program was hearing the authentic perspective of a 17-year-old whose family just moved into their new Habitat Home,” said Dawn Smith, Director of Development. “The room fell silent as Christian Serna shared his experience, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Homeownership transforms lives for generations.”

All proceeds from the event will directly support Habitat SLO’s critical programs, including new home construction, home preservation, aging-in-place services for seniors, and neighborhood revitalization efforts.

“Every dollar raised at Build With Us is an investment in our community,” said Kristie Anderson – Steele, Interim CEO. “We are deeply grateful to our guests, sponsors, volunteers, and auction donors for making this evening not just a celebration, but a powerful step forward in helping local families access safe, stable, and affordable housing.”

Guests bid generously on auction items including a three-night vineyard stay for twelve, a private sightseeing flight over the Central Coast, a Disney Aulani resort getaway, and a Pismo Beach Adventure. The community’s support truly hammered home the message of Habitat’s mission.

Habitat SLO thanks presenting sponsor Mechanics Bank and more than 70 local businesses and individuals whose generosity made the event possible. Other sponsors include Albertsons – Paso, American Riviera Bank, Ancient Peaks Winey, Ashley Vance Engineering, Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, Avenue Twelve, Jenny & Phil Barlow, Barnhart Home, Black Hand Cellars, Board in SLO, Bradford Portraits, Brent Keast, The Carlton Hotel, Central Coast Brewing, Central Coast Community Energy, Charles Paddock Zoo, Anne Crabbe, Daou Family Estates, Derby Winery, Didi Hakes, Dignified Hope Care, El Lugar Wines, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Yvonne Goll Photography, Hamachai Design, The Harris Family, Higuera Ranch, Hive Engineering, Idler’s Home, Just Baked, Kula Winery and Restaurant, Limoneira / Windfall Farms, Lucky Oak Laundry, Gary Marshall, Mechanics Bank, Michele Good, Coastal Controller, MYLR Bookstore, Niner Wine Estates, Onx Winery, Pacific Gas & Electric, Peachy Canyon Winery, Dr. Rick Phillips, Poor Richard’s Press, Pretty Cow Cookie Co., Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Semmes and Co. Builders, Inc, Serial Wines, SESLOC Credit Union, Shawn and Kara Mulqueeney, Talley Vineyards, Team Smithers, The Cakery, Trader Joe’s – Templeton, Truss Wines, Truitt Vance, Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach and Village Preschool.

Learn more about volunteering by clicking the button below.

For the October volunteer spotlight, we are excited to discuss the contributions of Andrew Roof. He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for approximately four months. During this time, Andrew has leveraged his BFA in Interior Design and used his prior knowledge in green building sustainability to assist the SLO community.  

A native of Chicago, Andrew worked professionally in interior design before relocating to California to be closer to his family and explore career opportunities. Currently, he is an entrepreneur with his own business in interior redesign, home staging, and feng shui. Additionally, he works part-time at a local SLO business downtown called Couch Potato, assisting with custom furniture and design consultations.

Using his expertise, he has been able to help others at the ReStore by building furniture and organizing materials. Thus far, Andrew has built base cabinets for kitchens. When asked why he chose to volunteer at Habitat he enthusiastically replied, “I like the ReStore concept of Habitat. It keeps a bunch of things out of the landfill and sells them at really good prices. It is a win-win for everyone.” 

Moreover, his favorite aspect related to working for Habitat is, “engaging with the community. The people I volunteer with, the people that walk into the store, and the employees are positive and great people.”

Previously, Andrew worked and volunteered for the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, which is a non-profit organization. While volunteering he assisted with setting up exhibits, coordinating events, and hanging artwork. Later, he joined the staff as a Visitor Services Manager and interacted a lot with the public and organized the retail shop. 

If you are ever in the SLO ReStore office, be sure to say hello to Andrew! 

Learn more about volunteering by clicking the button below.

Employees bond by building joy for local children

Volunteering to give back to a community can take many forms, and recently, employees at American Riviera Bank decided to give back by building joy for local children. The Playhouse Build program is a unique Habitat for Humanity San Luis Obispo County (Habitat SLO) initiative that unites creative volunteers and generous sponsors to create custom playhouses for deserving local families. The program aims to provide children with a space to play, create, and call their own, while offering a meaningful team-building experience for participants.

“American Riviera Bank is committed to making a difference in our communities,” shared Steven Harding, American Riviera Bank Executive Vice President Regional President. “The Bank was eager to partner with Habitat for Humanity since we both invest in the community to strengthen the overall financial health of its citizens. This Playhouse build through Habitat SLO afforded us the opportunity to give back in a really meaningful and tangible way. We loved creating a space where children feel safe and have opportunities to work on essential life skills.”

“If you know of a family whose children would benefit from a fun place to play and dream, nominate them today,” shared Colleen Stefanek, Habitat SLO Volunteer and Marketing Coordinator. Nominations for families to receive a playhouse are open year-round, and the community is encouraged to nominate deserving local families. In this instance, multiple families will enjoy this playhouse as they are transitioning into permanent housing through the El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO).

“Additionally, we have a special relationship with ECHO and are so thrilled that the children and families that ECHO serves will get to enjoy the playhouse,” said Harding.

Consider sponsoring a Playhouse Build for your business, group, or team. Learn more on our website.

Join our new sustainable challenge and showcase your creativity and talent

This July, we are hosting a ReStore-It Challenge to support local affordable housing for families in need and to promote sustainability. From June 4th to July 31st, anyone can enter by purchasing a $20 ReStore credit and taking home a piece of furniture to fix up from the San Luis Obispo or Paso Robles ReStore. Bring it back to the respective store by July 31 for customer voting. Winners will be announced August 17 at The Big Deal ReStore Anniversary Event.

Entering the ReStore-It Challenge allows participants to show off their skills with creativity, traditional restoration, or innovation to revive their piece while promoting sustainable consumer habits. “Each year, Americans throw out more than 12 million tons of furniture,” the New York Times wrote in one article. Renewing and repurposing furniture gives it a second chance and keeps it out of landfills; so far this year, local ReStore customers prevented 686,650 pounds of usable materials from ending up in the trash.

“Dining room tables and chairs, dressers, bookshelves, hutches, coffee tables – there is so much to choose from,” states Stephanie Wright, Habitat SLO ReStores Manager. “It’s nice to see old pieces come back to life in other ways.”

Participants can proudly exhibit their project by taking photos to show progress, posting photos on Instagram with #ReStoreItChallenge and tagging @HabitatSLOReStores.

ReStore credit can be used on store items and the proceeds go towards Habitat’s affordable housing, Home Preservation, and Neighborhood Revitalization programs.

Pictured, ReStores Manager Stephanie Wright sands a table in our Paso Robles ReStore workshop.

Fore more information about the challenge, visit the ReStore-It Challenge web page linked below.

$2,405 Gift supports Habitat’s Home Preservation That Helps Local Senior Citizens

Habitat for Humanity San Luis Obispo County is delighted to announce a gift of $2,405 from Absolution Cellars of Morro Bay. This donation supports the Home
Preservation program, which helps local senior citizens safely age in place.

Absolution Cellars has long supported the San Luis Obispo non-profit community and their contribution to Habitat for Humanity SLO County demonstrates a shared commitment to addressing the pressing housing challenges faced by low-income individuals and families in our community, especially senior citizens. More information including the Home Preservation program inquiry form can be found on the Habitat SLO County website.

Nicholas Rasmussen, Habitat for Humanity SLO County CEO, says that area residents may not know about Habitat SLO’s Home Preservation program. “We provide basic repair and maintenance services for homeowners, with the primary goal of transforming lives together. We are grateful to Absolution Cellars for choosing Habitat SLO as one of the recipients of the Great Odin’s Blend Cab Franc/Syrah/Cab Sauvignon sales. This generous gift will help local seniors, as well as raise awareness about this important program. We are extremely grateful!”

“Giving back to the community is an integral part of being a small business owner for us at Absolution Cellars here in Morro Bay, so we created our award-winning Great Odin’s Blend with that in mind,” said Dirk Neumann, Absolution Cellars owner. “Fifteen dollars from every bottle sold goes to our favorite local charities, and when we were approached by one of our wine club members about Habitat for Humanity, it was a natural fit since in my previous life before winemaking, I worked for a homebuilder where we donated a lot of volunteer hours and materials to our local chapter. With my parents both in their 80s, the SLO Chapter’s initiative of helping seniors age in place and stay in their homes rather than moving into a home really hit home for me.”

Habitat for Humanity SLO County collaborates with local businesses, organizations and individuals to implement sustainable changes that uplift neighborhoods and foster a sense of belonging. The investment from Absolution Cellars will help Habitat for Humanity to make a lasting impact.

Rasmussen shared, “For those of you who purchased a bottle of the Great Odin’s Blend, thank you! You may not have known it at the time, but you are helping a local senior safely remain in their home with dignity.”

Dawn Smith, Director of Development for Habitat SLO, says there are many ways to get involved in the Home Preservation program. “If you want to volunteer to help us paint porches, remove safety hazards, fix fences, landscape and more – I encourage you to volunteer with us. We’re also seeking sponsors and donors to help fund this important program. If this interests you, let’s talk soon.” Smith can be reached at dawn@habitatslo.org and 805-782-0687.

As a Habitat for Humanity International affiliate, Habitat for Humanity SLO County appreciates direct donations to their organization. These contributions enable the organization to utilize donor funds locally, reinforcing their commitment to making a positive impact on the community.

With this special wine Absolution Cellars has donated thousands of dollars to support local charities. Habitat SLO County is thankful to be chosen as the recipient for this special donation.

To contribute to the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate and make a difference in the lives of local neighbors in need, supporters are encouraged to donate to Habitat for Humanity SLO County directly.

Gifts can be made in honor or memory of the special people in your life.

Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo ReStore locations celebrate Earth Day with a Sidewalk Sale

Join us for an Earth Day sidewalk sale where well-loved items will be available at deeper-than-usual discounts in an effort to keep them from the landfill. Community members graciously donate furniture, housewares, appliances, tools, hardware, and other home necessities to the San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles ReStores. Yet, some items are on the warehouse floor for longer than wanted, and this sale will help keep those items out of the landfill.

The sale will be Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 8 A.M. to 1 P.M. in both SLO County ReStore locations.

ReStores are already seen as a sustainable and earth-friendly way to complete home projects, but this event will help take that one step further. ReStore goods will be for sale in the parking lot at a heavily discounted rate which will continue to help support our worthy cause.

“Don’t miss out on the opportunity to save items from our landfills. There are so many great pieces of furniture that could use a coat of paint or sand and stain,” said Colleen Stefanek, Marketing & Volunteer Coordinator. “Start at the ReStore. The pricing is much less expensive than the big box stores, and your purchase directly makes an impact in our local community programs.”

Make sure to add the ReStore to your Garage Sale map for the day. You never know, they just might have the treasure you’re looking for!

Learn more about volunteering in, donating to, or shopping in our ReStore locations.

Paso Robles ReStore | 844 9th Street | (805) 546-8699

San Luis Obispo ReStore | 2790 Broad Street | (805) 434-0486