For Celester Williams, shopping at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a way to help others while helping himself.

He was one of the first customers at the Habitat for Humanity of the N.C. Sandhills Rockingham ReStore when it opened Tuesday, but has shopped at the ReStores in Laurinburg and Southern Pines.

ReStores raise money to build Habitat homes by selling donated items. The Rockingham store is in the Lowe’s Shopping Center off of East Broad Avenue in Rockingham, and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

“It’s nice to have one here,” Williams said. “Anything to help somebody, because everyone’s in need - you could be up one day and down the next. At these stores, you get to help somebody, and help yourself by getting a good price, so you get it both ways.”

A grand unveiling of the Rockingham ReStore is being planned in the near future, but for now shoppers can go to the store and buy or donate unwanted items to help build a home for a needy family.

The agency wants to raise enough money to build homes for two Richmond County families a year with the proceeds from the store.

“I’m thrilled there were people here waiting at the door to get in,” said ReStore Manager Jo Ann Thurman. “Now that the store is open, we’re going to really need donations to keep it open, though.”

Thurman said more volunteers have also been showing up, though there is still room for more.

For Sandhills Habitat Richmond County Area Manager Chris Carpenter, the establishment of the ReStore is a project that stretched on for the better part of a year, and had the support of the community along the way.

“Every day I’ve had at least 10 people ask me when the store was going to open,” Carpenter said. “I’m pleased to say that the store is open, and now I can finally start answering other questions.”

County resident Joyce Santos has also shopped at ReStores before, and was anxious to see the one in Rockingham when it opened.

“I go to the one in Southern Pines all the time, and I’m happy that we have one closer now,” she said. “They really have some great deals. I’ve bought a lot from Habitat over the years - I believe in it.”

“I like shopping at Habitat, but they’re going to need some more donations,” shopper Jean Shore said. “I know the one in Hilton Head (South Carolina) constantly has people going in and out, so there’s high hopes for these things if they can get the right donations.”

Richard McIntyre accompanied his neighbor as she bought a treadmill on the first morning of the ReStore being open.

“This is very nice - I’m glad we’ve got one in Rockingham,” McIntyre said. “Especially to start with, I think the selection is pretty good.”

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.