Earlier this month, the Town of Zionsville awarded Habitat for Humanity ReStore and SullivanMunce Cultural Center grant money from Zionsville’s Charitable Organizations Fund.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore received $4,674.98 from the town for online scheduling software, a store laptop and a tablet for the driver.
The software, Vonigo, features online scheduling for donors, allowing them to choose the date and time for dropping off their item. It also manages donation pickups, using a mapping tool that creates the most efficient route for the ReStore drivers.
Since opening in December 2018, ReStore employees have been trying to keep up with the demand of residents calling in to schedule donation pick ups. The new software not only manages the donation process, but also the lifecycle of the item in the store.
“It will benefit both the donor and us,” said Amy Hartwig, volunteer coordinator and development director at HFHBC. “In the process (of using Vonigo), the donor gets to select their day and time and upload a picture of the item so on our end we know what to expect. It lays out each day for us and has programming for mapping.”
Previously, donors called the ReStore and waited for a call back to schedule their donation drop-off or pickup. Now, it will all be one click away on ReStore’s website.
“We have had a tremendous response to our ReStore opening in Boone County and look forward to sharing this amazing tool with our donors,” Liz Qua, executive director for Habitat for Humanity Boone County, stated in a press release.
The town also awarded SullivanMunce Cultural Center $6,000 for an interior renovation to provide a wheelchair-accessible restroom. Since the existing restrooms were built prior to mandated Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, the door and hallway to the restrooms cannot accommodate a wheelchair.
The renovations are scheduled be completed this year and will create a separate but adjacent family friendly unisex restroom that meets ADA requirements.
The museum also received $5,432.50 in previous grant money from the Boone REMC Community Fund to provide half of the funds needed for the project.
More than 10,000 people visit SullivanMunce each year for events, exhibitions, research, and other activities.
“We are grateful the Town of Zionsville’s non-profit grant program was there to supplement the funding needed to make our restrooms accessible to everyone,” SullivanMunce Cultural Center Executive Director Cynthia Young stated in a press release.
Zionsville Mayor Tim Haak said the town was happy to support two community-minded organizations.
