The ReStore is Finally a Place for Tina McCabe to Call Home
As a military brat, Tina McCabe didn’t really have one place to call home. Moving often continued when she married into a military family.
Ten years ago, though, Yorktown became her hometown, and now with her husband retired from the Army, she is finally settled. “This is the longest I’ve ever lived in one place,” she says.
It’s also the longest the Director of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Newport News has worked at the same place. McCabe started at the Habitat ReStore in Williamsburg right before it opened a decade ago.
The Habitat ReStore locations in Williamsburg and Newport News sells gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials and more at deeply discounted prices, all in support of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg.
McCabe was actually helping her daughter look for a summer job when she spotted the posting from the new Williamsburg ReStore seeking a volunteer coordinator.
“At that time, I was doing a lot of volunteer work,” McCabe says. “I thought this was a great opportunity to do something I love and get paid for it. The store was just getting ready to open, and it was exciting to be part of something from the beginning.”
Since she started, the ReStore has done nothing but grow. The Williamsburg store expanded. More staff has come on board. Donations and sales skyrocketed. The Newport News location opened.
McCabe grew, too, tackling various positions. She was a processing manager for a while and later an assistant manager. She opened up a donation center in Yorktown on behalf of Habitat that has since closed. For the last four years, she has been Director of the Newport News store, where she has a hand in all that goes into making operations tick.
Sometimes she runs meetings related to marketing strategies and forecasting growth. Other days, she unpacks boxes. Sometimes she sets up displays and helps volunteers. She’s always assisting customers.
“I love jumping in,” she says. “I love being that person. The variety each and every day is my favorite part of the job.”
Over the years, McCabe became more invested in Habitat’s mission — bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. She got to know the homebuyers who completed many of their sweat equity volunteer hours at the ReStore.
“It’s really motivating to see how excited families are to be moving into their own home and providing something they probably thought never was going to happen for them,” McCabe says.
McCabe also values learning under the direction of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg CEO Janet V. Green and Chief Operating Officer LaToya Tyler.
“I enjoy working under a female CEO and COO,” McCabe says. “I really respect what they’ve built here. I feel like they’re always in my corner rooting for me to succeed.”
McCabe also credits both for helping her discover her passion. As a kid, she thought she’d grow up to be an Olympic gymnast. Every time she moved, she found a new job, often building her schedule around raising her son and daughter.
She thought the Habitat position was just another job at first. It’s turned into much more. She oversees a staff of 18 — all who inspire her with the energy, enthusiasm and creative ideas they bring every day.
“My job here turned into a career,” McCabe says. “I attribute that to my CEO and my COO, being supportive and seeing my potential. And my staff. I just love them.”
An aside, you bet she’s a ReStore shopper herself. McCabe has bought items and donated them back and is never surprised by the treasure chest that awaits shoppers at the ReStore.
