Wish List: Creative re-use center effort seeks donations

Rachael Thompson was going to make herself a coat, but the price tag for the materials was about $85.

She could get a store-bought jacket for less.

Other art and craft supplies also can break the bank — from canvas to picture frames, the Kennewick woman said.

And at the same time, materials that could be used in a creative way — from fabric to leftover yarn, paper, canvas, old frames, pieces of wood and cardboard tubes — often end up in the waste stream instead of the hands of artists and crafters who could make them into something beautiful.

So Thompson, 28, and a couple of friends are starting a local nonprofit aimed at addressing both those issues.

Their creative re-use center — think second-hand store for art and craft supplies — will offer affordable materials, while also helping cut down on the amount of usable items that end up in the garbage. It will offer and host classes and workshops for kids and adults.

And the center will have a gallery and a gift shop, both featuring work by local artists made largely from salvaged and recycled materials.

The center is to be part of the SCRAP network of creative re-use centers, which started with the popular SCRAP in Portland.

Thompson is working on the local SCRAP with friends Chrissa Terrel, 29, of Pasco, and Katy Mills, 28, of Richland.

“It just happened to work out that we’ve all kind of been echoing the same call for years — how do we make our community better?” Terrel said.

“How do we support art?” added Mills.

“Exactly — encouraging creativity and artists in this area,” said Terrel.

This holiday season, the women could use donations to help get the center off the ground.

A top need is donated space in a building where they can set up their center. They would take care of it and vacate if a renter or buyer came along, they said.

Their wish list also includes clean, usable supplies and materials from paint to canvases, frames and fabric. “It’s the holidays. Most people are making things. You’re going to be left with yarn (and other materials) you don’t need anymore, and we’d love to take it from you,” Terrel said.

They also need shelving, tables, bins and other storage containers.

And they could use financial contributions. They’re on their way to raising the $1,000 required as part of the process of opening a local SCRAP, but also will need money for other start-up and operating expenses once that goal is met.

An event is planned from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 20 in Richland to raise money and introduce the community to the concept. It will include a photo booth, art and craft pieces for sale, craft activities, music and information. It’s at Paper Street Brewing Co., 701 The Parkway.

Terrel, Thompson and Mills said they hope to have the local re-use center open by spring.

For more information or to arrange a donation, go to the local center’s Facebook page by searching under “REcreate” or email chrissa-marie@hotmail.com.

This story was originally published December 19, 2014 at 10:34 PM with the headline "Wish List: Creative re-use center effort seeks donations."