Samuel Rugi is a scrappy guy with some serious mettle. And metal. When most people think of Habitat for Humanity, construction comes to mind. But Samuel, a regular volunteer at Habitat Portland Region ReStores, focuses on something a bit different: deconstruction.
“Around Thanksgiving, I dismantled a Maytag Electric Wall Oven Microwave Combo,” he says. “It once cooked meals that brought a family together. Now the funds from its salvage bring families together again, in homes of their own.”
At Habitat Portland Region ReStores, deconstruction means taking apart, breaking down, and salvaging metals found inside donated household items. All Portland Region ReStores take donations of quality new and used items, and the ones not quite up to resale standards go to volunteers like Samuel to be turned into funds for new homes through the metal recycling program.
The value of these recycled metals adds up. Ounce by ounce, pound by pound, this salvage generates tens of thousands of dollars a year to support Habitat’s vision: a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Old items offer new experiences
Volunteering with the ReStore’s metal recycling program has been transformative for Samuel. Like many, he spends most of his days on a computer, but this work pulled him out of his comfort zone and into hands-on learning.
“This experience gave me the chance to work with hand tools like screwdrivers, wire cutters, and wrenches — as well as power tools like cordless drills and grinders,” he explains. “It motivated me to grow my skills so I can give back to the community in a practical way.”
“I want families to have the peace of mind that comes with being able to take care of their basic needs, and a reasonable monthly payment for their homes helps with that,” Samuel says. With each item he takes apart, he knows he is helping build that stability for the community.
You can find Samuel trading his keyboard for a crowbar at Habitat for Humanity’s Gresham ReStore on any given Scrap Metal Saturday. Here — and at every Portland Region ReStore — donations retire from their original purpose and become part of something much bigger.
Local action, global impact
How much bigger? For Samuel, the ripple effects go well beyond Portland. He is inspired by the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, which are a blueprint for environmentally conscious, peaceful development now and into the future. On top of that, the United Nations declared 2026 as the International Volunteer Year to recognize volunteers as key drivers of sustainable development worldwide — we couldn’t agree more! Thanks to Samuel and volunteers like him, we can keep reusable materials out of landfills and turn them into resources for sustainable housing development.
You can contribute to this global goal right here in our community! Chances are, you have lots of valuable items ready to donate that you won’t even miss. There are probably things collecting dust in your home or garage right now that Samuel and his fellow volunteers are eager to deconstruct.
If it contains copper, brass, stainless steel, or aluminum, they want to see it. Old pots and pans? Probably aluminum. Worn-out wok? Likely steel. That tangled bundle of twinkly holiday lights you’ve been meaning to donate? Copper wire. Light fixtures, power tools, faucets, doorknobs, and appliances all contain valuable metals that volunteers want to see! Our ReStores are aiming to raise $150,000 from the metal recycling program in 2026, so bring your used items to any Portland Region ReStore and help fund sustainable housing in your backyard.
Joseph Drushal, Habitat’s Salvage and Recycling Manager, says Sam’s enthusiasm is energizing.
“He pushes himself, and even me, to take on the bigger scrap projects like Craftsman radial arm saws, vintage table saws, and drill presses. Other volunteers get pumped up too when he’s around. It’s really a lot of fun,” Joseph says.
Beyond finding the work challenging, gritty, and fun, Samuel finds purpose in giving his free time to Habitat’s metal recycling program.
“It has been meaningful to bring hope and transformation to the community around me,” he says.
Want to join the fun? Sign up for Scrap Metal Saturdays at any Portland Region ReStore: https://volunteer.habitatportlandregion.org/metal-recycling-program/
Ready to bring donations to a ReStore? Start here: https://pdxrestore.org/donate/
