WILLIAMSBURG — Alewerks Brewing Company sold out its special brew Nailed It!, raising $1,500 for Habitat for Humanity.
The $1,500 donation will contribute to the House That Small Business Built. The fundraiser is attempting to raise $125,000 — the price tag to build a Habitat house — that is typically too big for any one small business to fund in its entirety. The house is set to be constructed in Charles City County in 2023.
The House That Small Business Built will be funded incrementally by donations from multiple small businesses. The project was launched by Consociate Media, which seeded the first $10,000 last December in recognition of its 10th year in business. The house will ultimately be sold to a qualifying family through Habitat’s first-time Homebuyer Program.
“It’s an amazing initiative and we’re happy to contribute a little to the goal of building a Habitat home,” said Michael Claar, Operations Director at Alewerks. “It feels like a good start. We’d love to do more.”
Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg received a record number of applications this spring for families seeking to partner with the nonprofit to buy their own homes and pay back their zero-interest monthly mortgage payments on time. Those payments are cycled back into the community so more homes can be built.
“There’s an incredible need for more affordable housing options for Virginians right now,” said Janet V. Green, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg. “It’s so gratifying to us when local businesses like Alewerks step up to make a difference in the community where their customers live, work and play.”
Alewerks donated $1 for every four pack of Nailed It! sold and $1 from every pint sold on draft and Total Wine carried the special release beer. The total raised exceeded $1,400 and Alewerks rounded up to make its donation an even $1,500.
Alewerks is among several local businesses already onboard with Consociate Media for the project. Others include Phillips Energy, The Local Scoop Magazine and the Williamsburg Winery.
Small businesses that wish to contribute can do so at consociatemedia.com or habitatpgw.org.
Habitat ReStore in Williamsburg Now Open Until 6 p.m.
Shoppers can now enjoy extended hours at the Habitat for Humanity ReStores in Williamsburg.
Operated by Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg, the store will now open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. It will also be open one extra hour, until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, starting on July 19. The store is closed on Sundays.
Tuesdays are Customer Appreciation Day at the Williamsburg ReStore, giving shoppers an additional 20% discount.
The nonprofit home improvement store and donation centers sells new and gently used furniture, appliances, accessories and building materials, typically 30-90% off retail, with all proceeds going toward building more Habitat homes locally for qualifying moderate-to-low income families who purchase them through the local affiliate’s first-time Homebuyer Program.
Steve Russell, Director of the Williamsburg ReStore, said the change is actually a return to pre-pandemic hours.
“By extending our hours, we’re trying to accommodate our customer base that has been very patient with us,” he said. “Over the last two years, we have heard pretty frequently from customers wishing we would go back to our old hours, so we are.”
Donations will continue to be accepted Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Williamsburg ReStore. Free donation pickup is also available.
Russell said both ReStores have seen an increase in sales and foot traffic in the early part of July. “It’s too early to say because it’s such a small sample size,” he said. “But it looks like extending our hours was the right decision.”
The Williamsburg ReStore is located at 1303 Jamestown Road. For more information on the nonprofit, visit Habitat for Humanity.
