The Community Trust Foundation (CTF) serves the region in many ways. One of the most visible is through its grant program, which identifies community needs and provides financial support to organizations responding to those needs. In 2024 , CTF provided start-up funding to support Allegany County Habitat for Humanity, Inc. as it launched its Restore. The following year, CTF provided additional funds to improve the Restore’s technology, ensuring expanded marketing opportunities.
The Habitat Restore is a business model that has proven to be successful throughout the United States, including other counties in Maryland. Proceeds from Restore sales are used to build Habitat houses and according to Kathy Miller, local Habitat for Humanity board member, it is anticipated that the Restore sales will provide funding to increase the number of houses that can be built in the community. To date, five houses have been completed and a 6th is in progress.
With support provided by the Community Trust Foundation, the Allegany County Habitat for Humanity Restore officially opened in October 2024 at 28 Lane Ave in LaVale. The 20,000 square foot facility is currently open Wednesday-Friday, 10-6 and Saturday 10-2. Inventory , which includes gently used furniture, home goods, building materials, appliances, and collectibles, changes regularly with new donations arriving daily. The response from the community has been met with encouraging sales. New partnerships have developed with the Allegany County School System, the LaVale and Frostburg Lions Clubs and the Allegany County Animal Shelter and more are anticipated. From an environmental perspective, donated items typically headed for local landfills are finding new utility.
The historic May 2025 flood that devastated parts of Allegany County had a severe impact on the Habitat Restore. Michael McKenzie, Restore Manager, noted that most of the existing inventory was damaged. Volunteers, of which the Restore has a steady stream, worked for weeks to remove what could not be salvaged. But, like the rest of Allegany County, resilience prevailed and the Restore re-opened in July, with a fresh inventory provided by the generosity of the community.
If you are in the market for something new that isn’t quite but still has lots of life left, visit the Habitat for Humanity Restore at 28 Lane Ave in LaVale.