The Stock Pile is a non-profit home improvement reuse store that saves new and gently used building materials from going to waste in dumpsters and landfills so they can be made available to northeast Ohio residents for 1/3-1/2 of the retail cost.
The Stock Pile’s goal is to improve substandard housing in northeast Ohio by connecting low-to-moderate income individuals/families, those 62 years of age or older, the disabled, and/or active or veteran military members to low-cost building supplies. We believe that by coming together as a community we can ensure everyone can improve their homes and lives.
Here at The Stock Pile, our mission is to reduce waste and improve homes, by offering reusable building materials and home improvement supplies at low cost to members of our community.
Originally known as “The Reuse Center,” The Stock Pile was started in 1998 by staff members at Stark County Regional Planning Commission, including Brenda Mahan, Malia Sponseller, and Traci Langfit. The idea for a building material reuse store came about because of the growing issue of substandard housing in Stark County. Stark County Regional Planning Commission (SCRPC) was also overseeing a recycling program at the time and saw the need to divert materials from landfills. There were also no other reuse stores of this nature in the area at the time.
SCRPC moved forward with the idea of starting a building material reuse store with these things in mind. They modeled the organization after The Loading Dock in Baltimore, Maryland. It was started through combined funding from Stark County Community Development Block Grant and Stark-Tusc-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District.
There were two main goals that The Stock Pile sought to improve. The first was to help Northeast Ohio homeowners with low-to-moderate income and nonprofits have access to building supplies at discounted prices. This program would enable people to fix and improve their homes to make them safer. Nonprofits such as churches would also have the opportunity to improve their building or use the supplies to expand their housing services. Secondly, The Stock Pile sought to keep reusable building materials out of the waste stream. These goals remain true over 20 years later.
After the generosity of local businesses and individuals, including Alliance Lowe’s, Fleisher Homes, Heritage Carpet, American Marble Industries, National Association of the Remodeling Industry, and Municipal Services Corporation, The Stock Pile was ready to open. Before the grand opening, we opened our doors for four days in December 1998 and January 1999. We officially opened on March 20th, 1999! And at the same location, we are at today.
Originally The Stock Pile was only open about two days per week and in order to shop you had to be a qualifying member. Members had to be low-to-moderate income and fall within the guidelines set by SCRP.
Today membership has been expanded to include veterans/active military, disabled, and those 62 years of age or older. We are also now open to the public Wednesday-Sunday and do not require a membership to shop. Our goals remain the same, as we continually strive to ensure that everyone has access to materials needed to keep their homes safe and updated. And we continue to seek donations from businesses and individuals as we work to keep reusable materials out of landfills.
The Stock Pile is made possible through grants, including the City of Canton’s Community Development Block Grant and from income received through the sale of building materials in our store. The Stock Pile is a project of The Stark County Regional Planning Commission and overseen by a volunteer Board of Trustees.
- Diverted 3735.99 tons of reusable materials from landfills since our inception.
- Currently assists more than 2,900 low-to-moderate income families from all over Northeast Ohio.
- Serves 115 local nonprofits through our free membership.
- Sold 689 gallons of recycled paint through our Second Coat Recycled Paint Program since its creation.
- Provided 113 free vouchers since 2017 through our Welcome Home Free Furniture Program.
The Stock Pile Manager:
Robert Jackson
Email: manager@thestockpile.org
Phone: 330-455-4585
Marketing & Donations Coordinator
Michelle McKague
Email: Donations@thestockpile.org
Warehouse Supervisor:
Ryan Mcculloch
Phone: 330-455-4585