Local developers are giving back by donating items from presentation centres to charitable organizations like Habitat for Humanity
During a casual conversation with colleagues, Joey Coupland, Wesgroup Properties’ director of sales brought up an idea. She wanted to salvage items in its presentation centres, once pre-sales wrapped up, rather than see them be dismantled or sent to the landfill.
“It was bothering me that sinks, toilets, cabinetry and fixtures were getting demolished and recycled, when they were in perfect condition,” says Coupland. “These items were showcased in our beautiful show homes, but once the pre-sale process was complete, they would either be sold, recycled or re-used.”
Coupland was thrilled when everyone on the team, including Wesgroup Properties owner/president Peeter Wesik, were immediately on board.
Launched in early 2021, Wesgroup has donated items from two presentations centres, one in New Westminster and the other in Vancouver’s River District, to Habitat for Humanity and the North Shore Women’s Centre, a drop-in centre where women from different backgrounds come to access resources, and other support.
“Giving back to both charities certainly aligns with our core values at Wesgroup,” says Coupland. “I’m hoping that by getting this message out there, other developers will come on board with this program.”
It seems other developers are doing just that. REW reached out to Neil Moody, CEO, Canadian Home Builders Association of BC (CHBA BC), to ask if he knew of other developers keeping construction materials out of landfills.
“It’s important that as much construction material as possible is reused and redirected from ending up in the landfill,” says Moody. “We have many members who actively work to reduce their construction waste by deconstructing homes and then donating the usable material.”
He notes that CHBA BC member Clay Construction has sold reusable items on Craigslist and h donated material to organizations like Surrey New and Used and Habitat for Humanity.
“Clay Construction also work with a company called Unbuilders to deconstruct the home and they sell the material.,” adds Moody. “Another CHBA BC member, Blackfish Homes is also working with Unbuilders on their projects. All possible items get donated to Habitat for Humanity Restore for a tax credit for their clients.”
Meanwhile, donations to Habitat for Humanity are used to stock Habitat ReStores, the non-profit organization’s home improvement stores and donation centres that resell new and gently used furniture, home appliances, building materials and more at significantly reduced prices.
Colin Lundrigan, business development director for Habitat for Humanity, says the support from developers helps the non-profit get deserving families in homes.
“The gifts in kind from companies such as Wesgroup’s enable us to sell them through our ReStores,” says Lundrigan. “It’s a win/win … our customers get great prices on quality goods and it helped us with our recently completed Mission project where 19 families just moved into their new affordable homes. We are about to begin on a new 43 homes project in Coquitlam.”
