An Olive Garden customer sat here

When Darden Restaurants started remodeling 300 of its Red Lobster, Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse locations, the old furnishings were recycled to ReStores, the 700 resale outlets of Habitat for Humanity. Reuse—of tables, chairs, art and other decor—fits Darden’s corporate commitment to sustainability, community service and philanthropy. “We strive to have an enduring and positive influence on the communities we serve,” says Drew Madsen, president and chief operating officer for Darden. “We’re pleased to partner with Habitat for Humanity to repurpose these furnishings in a way that will benefit others.”

So far donated items, from about 150 restaurants that have completed renovations, have topped $1.2 million in value. Individual restaurants arrange transfer of the goods directly to local ReStores where they are available to the public at discount prices. In turn, ReStores sales help local Habitat affiliates fund construction and rehabilitation of homes.