Three years with Bill!

Three years ago, our ReStore team drove out to pick up a huge donation: dozens of items that had been sitting in storage for over a couple of decades. They knew the lot included a stuffed fish and an assortment of other interesting items, but one piece, in particular, caught their attention: a wooden crate. When our ReStore director James announced he was going to open it, ReStore manager LeAnn followed with her phone camera ready. She generally doesn’t follow staff around to film them, but she had a feeling about this one.

What was in that crate? Not in it but fastened securely to the lid: Bill! A yellow heart-shaped Post-it note was attached to him with a simple plea: “Save Bill.”

Not only was LeAnn able to record that fantastic moment for posterity, but ReStore did, indeed, “Save Bill.”

Bill was immediately claimed as the official Wichita Habitat ReStore mascot and earned a place of honor on the wall near the store entrance. Our ReStore team announced his residency with the help of his cartoon avatar (which many loyal newsletter subscribers recognize), and in March 2023, the store named their new Bill’s Book Nook after him.

Since he came to ReStore, Bill has been a true mainstay. He not only presides over the Book Nook but also makes appearances in most of ReStore Wichita’s social media posts. Bill is a fish of many talents! He loves a good pun and is willing to open his extensive wardrobe to imitate cowboys, kings, and rock stars. He’s as likely to set a table for tea as he is to swing from a chandelier! He even went on a little adventure at the beginning of April. Neither ReStore staff nor Wichita Habitat ever got the full story on that trip, but he had shared he prefers the adventures right here at ReStore.

We hope you continue to enjoy Bill’s antics as he lives his best life here at ReStore! If you never had a chance to see Bill’s uncrating, check it out below!

Shop ReStore Wichita today at 601 N. West St. from Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., or online at wichitahabitat.org/shop.

This story has been re-written in third person retaining the essence of the original.