WHY WE DO IT
We determine our ways of life.
Modern cultural perspective and practice tells us to throw away anything that is not useful to us anymore. Our disposable culture also encourages us to buy more than what we truly need. For example, even if you only need a black marker, you are often forced to purchase a whole new pack of ten markers in order to get that black marker. Many people and organizations have usable materials either leftover or never used. We hope to influence your cultural relationship with "stuff," by demonstrating that we already have enough materials available locally in our community. The real question is: what are we going to do with it and how many lives will it have?
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We depend on that which we destroy.
Our consumeristic culture is terrible for the earth's natural environment. Items are made cheaply so that we buy more and thus throw away more. Many items are used once before they are discard, even though they still have life left in them. While many materials can be recycled in our community, others have no outlet for recycling. Good stewardship practices encourage us to reduce, reuse and recycle. Often we just look to recycle, and forget about the other two options. Because the recycling process involves both mechanical and natural resources, reuse can be a more efficient first step. Since the majority of the materials we collect will end up in the landfill one day, our aim is to give them a second, third or fourth life and reduce the need for and consumption of new materials.
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Discover, learn, thrive.
Individuals have an innate desire to create and many teachers, parents and leaders want to support that desire. Parents, teachers and other community educators will find a diverse selection of materials here that will both inspire creativity, teach others about the concept of reuse and make learning fun. By encouraging students to hunt for materials or make do with what they can find on hand, we hope to instill a true long-term spirit of invention and imagination, which will positively impact their lives and the future of our communities. We need to teach future generation that there are many possible solutions to a problem! We also strive to make life-long learning more accessible. Need some basic tools for a new hobby you aren't sure you'll stick to? Buy or borrow them here instead of buying them at at a more expensive price! Further, creative learning opportunities are an effect way to nurture new generations' positive relationship with material goods and educate them on the importance of reuse and sustainability.
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Equal access for all.
Art, music and the ability to explore one’s creativity is a fundamental need and right. Further, it has shown to provide numerous physical, mental and emotional benefits and it increased quality of life. Everyone deserves access to creative materials, opportunities and experiences. By providing a more affordable alternative for obtaining creative materials, we aim to reduce economic gaps and increase quality of life for all people.
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Thrifty = smart.
Purchasing new arts and crafts materials can be a burden for individuals, households and school systems that wish to create or incorporate creative activities into what they do – teachers are often forced to purchase materials using money from their own pockets, parents can’t always afford to purchase brand new materials, artists may be forced to sacrifice their well-being in order to continue in their passion to create. We aim to provide low-cost, quality creative materials so that anyone who wants to create, teach, fix, experiment, decorate, or upcycle is not limited by the money in their pocket. Further, reusing materials that are already here in the community benefits the local economy. Eventually, we hope to grow our organization so that it provides additional job opportunities and community services.