Carpenter Neil Israel Saves Money for his Clients with Reuse Center Materials

Carpenter Neil Israel Saves Money for his Clients with Reuse Center Materials

If you hear humming and drumming in BBR’s Reuse Center, carpenter Neil Israel may be perusing the nearby shelves.

Neil has been shopping at the Reuse Center for twelve years after learning about the organization from a friend. “I shop here a lot,” Neil says. He has become well known among the staff for his habit of singing while he browses through the day’s selection of items.

Neil finds materials to use for client projects as well as for his own home. “You find very unusual things here sometimes,” he says. “Things you don’t see every day.”

On this particular day, he’s looking for doors, but also finds some floor tile, a pedestal sink, and a couple of hand tools. Neil enjoys the treasure-hunt quality of shopping here: “Sometimes I just pass by and I stumble upon things. I find things here that you don’t normally see elsewhere.”

As a carpenter, Neil is proud of his work. “I try to do the best work I can. I shop here a lot and find things that are very affordable. It helps keep the price down.”

It’s all too easy to underestimate the cost of a home improvement project. “You think it’s going to cost this much, and by the time you finish, it takes you way over budget,” he says. “This is the kind of place that helps keep the budget down.”

Furthermore, donating materials to the Reuse Center at BBR benefits the environment. “You’re keeping them out of the dumpster.” From insulation to appliances to windows and doors, materials from the Reuse Center make it possible to keep the environment and your home in good repair—for a song.