Murfreesboro, TN - Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity (RCHFH) is excited to partner with the 2019 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival to create a Habitat ReStore Lounge that will showcase recycled and "upscaled" items from the store that are kept out of area landfills.

The lounge will be created in the days before Bonnaroo opens on Thursday, June 13 and displayed throughout the event. It will feature items crafted by local artists, including Diane Stockard, Sarah Stob, Selina Hyzer, artists from Painting with a Twist and others. Volunteers from Hiss United Methodist Church in Baltimore also crafted items and built lounge items out of wood pallets. The ReStore Lounge at Bonnaroo is a project of the Bonnaroo Works Fund and Executive Director Kelsey Dewald.

Rutherford County Habitat ReStores keep over 560 tons of materials out of area landfills every year. The ReStores are located at 850 Mercury Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN and 413 Nissan Blvd., Smyrna, TN. The stores take donations of household goods including appliances, furniture, building materials, lighting, flooring, doors and windows, and sell them to the general public at highly discounted prices. Many items are donated by contractors and are brand new, and some have been "gently used." "It's a win-win for all," states ReStore Manager Josh Chappell.

Earlier in the year, RCHFH received a $10,000 grant from the Bonnaroo Works Fund and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to promote recycling and solid waste reduction. Those funds helped create marketing materials and upgrade the ReStore box truck with a lift gate and new graphics. Proceeds from the Habitat ReStores go towards the administrative costs of the nonprofit so that monetary donations can be allocated to the construction of houses. After completing a Financial Literacy and Homeowner Education Program and 200-400 hours of sweat equity, Habitat Future Homeowners buy their home. RCHFH plans on 3 house builds and 1 house rehab this summer and fall.

About Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity (RCHFH)

Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit, non-denominational Christian housing ministry, seeks to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope. This is done through building quality, affordable, sustainable houses while partnering alongside working families. Homes are built by RCHFH construction staff, partner families, and community volunteers. After a home is completed, it is sold to the family at no profit with an affordable monthly mortgage.