Home ReSource was founded in 2003 by two University of Montana graduates – Lauren Varney & Matt Hisel – who conceived of a retail operation that reduces construction and demolition waste while contributing to a local, green economy. What started as a volunteer-run building materials reuse center on Kent Street is today a community sustainability center that keeps 900+ tons of material out of the landfill each year, provides materials and services to over half of Missoula households, and has strong community partnerships, efficient operations, and a growing suite of Community Sustainability Programs. Through waste reduction efforts, education, and the channeling of materials and services to those in need, our mission is to build and inspire a more vibrant, just, and sustainable local economy.
As our green business has flourished (voted Missoula’s best green business four years in a row by the Indy (RIP)), our reputation as a sustainability leader has enabled us to develop partnerships and programs that support community-wide waste reduction efforts and focus on broader issues of sustainability. With the retail store as our foundation, we started developing programs designed to address all aspects of sustainability – environmental, social, and economic. Today, alongside day-to-day store operations, we have Job Training programs for youth and adults, a Zero Waste Ambassadors Programs for 5th graders, community reuse workshops, and Zero Waste programming for civic groups, businesses, and individuals in our community.
