Family 2 Family

Lifecycle Building Center gives families access to leftover construction materials

ATLANTA — With more time at home during the pandemic, many families are spring cleaning, renovating and checking off those honey-do lists. Unfortunately, for some families facing unemployment issues they might not be able to afford some of the same materials they could before the coronavirus hit.

Lifecycle Building Center saves usable building material from the landfill and filters it back into the community. The nonprofit also accepts drop-off donations and offers free material pickups.

“We’re capturing building materials that would otherwise be discarded and we’re converting them into community wealth,” said Executive Director Shannon Goodman. “We give free materials to nonprofits, schools and churches to sort of help their projects and relieve some of the cost burden.”

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Inside the 70,000 square foot warehouse on Murphy Avenue in southwest Atlanta, customers can usually find items like bathroom fixtures, cabinets, flooring and lighting for 50% off the retail cost.

Because of the pandemic, the nonprofit has seen an increase in the community’s need for these items. “Unfortunately, with a lot of people that are now unemployed, things don't stop breaking inside your home, and so we have more customers that cannot afford the places that they used to be able to afford,” said Catherine Crowell, director of operations.

Lifecycle Building Center is now offering in-person visits by appointment only.

You can also buy items through the new online store or request a personal shopper and curbside pickup.

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