Furniture Donated by Hotel Raises $10,500 for Habitat for Humanity

Christmas came early this year to some in Orange County. On a recent Saturday morning, about 30 local families were treated to an exclusive sale of furniture donated to Habitat for Humanity from the posh Westwood Marquis Hotel and Gardens.

Families came to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Santa Ana to buy couches for $75 and 27-inch televisions for $175. More than 300 pieces of furniture were sold, raising $10,500 for the nonprofit organization that builds homes for low-income families.

The donation came after the Marquis was bought to be refurbished for business travelers. ReStore manager Jason McKinstry organized the event, getting volunteers to spend the entire day before the sale moving the furniture down from Westwood.

“We never imagined that we would be able to raise so much,” McKinstry said. “For the first couple of hours, it was only open to Habitat families, which was good because they really got to take advantage of the donation. It was a great way to start off the Christmas season. We could have made a lot more money, but the purpose is to put the families first.”

Habitat for Humanity has built more than 4,000 homes for low-income families in the United States. Qualifying families get to build and/or purchase a home with a 1% down payment and a 20-year interest-free loan.

Salvador Ponce and his family bought one of the first homes built by the Orange County chapter of the organization. Six years ago Ponce, a maintenance worker at St. Joseph’s Center for Spiritual Development, was paying $800 for a one-bedroom apartment. Ponce filled out a qualifying application and got a three-bedroom home in Santa Ana with $500 monthly payments.

“I feel like I won the lottery,” Ponce said. “It’s the only way we can have a house and a better life for our children. Because that way we don’t have to work two or three jobs to make our payments. I think the children are the real winners.”

To apply for an available home, or to volunteer service or materials, call (714) 434-6200.

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Chris Ceballos can be reached at (714) 966-7440.