Mat-Su Valley Rebuild opens off Palmer-Wasilla Highway, accepting and selling items that would normally be thrown out

PALMER —Tim Zalinger recently opened Mat-Su Valley Rebuild, a nonprofit used and surplus store inside the Trinity Lutheran Church building or “The Barn” off the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. He established this store to cut down the amount of useful items commonly thrown away.

“It’s a construction thrift store,” Zalinger said.

This is Zalinger’s first time running a store. He said that he couldn’t stand seeing so many useful items go to waste and fill up landfills any longer.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever cared enough about something to do this,” Zalinger said.

Zalinger spends his time inside his small shop on the right side of the building with a garage that leads outside, brimming with assorted materials. He busily scrapes, screws, mends, refurbishes, and polishes various items until they are ready for sale. He said that items sold are fully functional and go for 30 to 50 percent off their regular, retail price.

“It just needs a little attention… most of the time it needs to be out in front of people,” Zalinger said.

Zalinger said that he wants his store to be the “hub” for people trying to clear clutter and for people looking for a piece of furniture or a new project.

“There’s something logical to it, keeping useful stuff out of landfills and giving it a new life, a longer life,” Zalinger said.

Zalinger wants his store to one day, be more than just a hub for donors and seekers. He said that he has “lofty goals” and aspires to promote education and practical skill-building in the Valley.

“I want it to be more than a store,” Zalinger said.

He said that he wants to eventually start hosting workshops for a spectrum of topics, including basic building techniques and home maintenance skills. He envisions a less wasteful community where more people mend than end their items.

“I want to teach people to oppose disposable things,” Zalinger said.

Zalinger said that he’s been in construction for 18 years on and off and knows how to make basic repairs on things like cabinets, ceiling fans and so on. He said that he wants to invite local groups, businesses and members of the community with their assorted skills and experiences to lead workshops outside his realm of expertise, teaching things like appliance repairs and used bicycle maintenance.

This model of donation driven items for building or construction redeems items with value that would otherwise go to waste and end up at the dump, according to Zalinger.

He said this practice will help shoppers save money from the discounted rate and will help donors save money as well by eliminating trips to the dump where they have to pay fees. He said there is no cost to donate and he accepts a plethora of items.

As people continue their spring cleaning efforts, Zalinger’s shop can be an effective way to clean out garages, sheds, rooms and yards. He said that he would like construction outfits to utilize his shop to save money on projects as well. He said that he’s heard a lot of positive feedback from customers and donors so far.

“The response has been great,” Zalinger said.

He said that this location is “perfect” because of the affordability, ease of access right of the highway and the potential to expand to other vacant rooms in the building.

Mat-Su Valley Rebuild is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 907-746-1122.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@ frontiersman.com