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2024 Year in Review -- Whoosh!



At CCRx our mission is to build a city-wide creative reuse economy that provides materials, generates ideas and fosters creativity and community for educators, artists, arts and nonprofit organizations in Chicago. This past year went by in a flash and exceeded our expectations in every way!


Redistributed surplus    We took in 83,300 lbs of surplus from 315 Donors (appointments, car and truck pickups) -- almost 42 tons!    We welcomed 950 Shoppers - mostly teachers - who purchased 673 Boxes of surplus and 820 Special Finds…  Special shout-out to Kurtis Productions, Chicago Department of Public Health, Blue Cross, VSA Partners, Chicago Fire, HHPLift, Shapiro Associates, Midtown Athletic, and the DNC Host Committee who provided especially juicy items!


Our 4th annual Teachers’ Back2School Giveaway provided 196 teachers with all types of materials to aid in classroom teaching, mostly gathered during our annual Schools Out Green Out! End of School Donation Drive.


Helping Hands   518 Volunteers lent a hand in the warehouse, including groups like Honeycomb Project, Volunteering Untapped, Envision Unlimited, and Fine Tune Expense Management, University of Chicago Phoenix Club, Volunteer Louder, St. Barnabas School, EL RIO and several others.  And our One Summer Chicago interns, too!


Promoting Creativity   

We held 17 Creative Reuse Workshops at the warehouse including Holiday Card-Making with Brenda Ward, No-Sew Pillows with Cynthium Johnson-Woodfolk, Felted Dryer Balls with Jessica Woodburn,  Collage and Frottage with Jesus Oviedo. 


We also hosted Soup and Thread, Chicago Makers Summit and several meetings of a Climate Change Art Therapy Group.


We brought creative reuse activities to 1,556 people via 16 Creativity Bus events, thanks to our collaborator, T.H.U.G.Hippie, and 23 Imagination Station events at parks, schools, block clubs, scouts and seniors on the SW side.  That does not include the hundreds who made fans at two Sundays on State events!





Commissions   We made 350 custom notebooks out of deconstructed books, binders and vinyl samples for Young Chicago Authors’ Rooted + Radical Poetry Slam and Kathryn Trumbull Fimreite made Reuse Pouf Pillows for Double Good  -- thanks to many volunteers who helped out!


CCRx Recyclo-Products + Kits are for sale at the Buddy Shop in the Chicago Cultural Center, on our website and at pop-up markets.  We provided materials and activities to our neighbors at Envision Unlimited Frick Center, whose members make fabulous carpets, pillows and help with various tasks.



Birds + Bees We helped install a Bird Migration Monitor on top of the warehouse and we paraded a giant Caterpillar and a kaleidoscope of butterflies in the Arts in the Dark Parade, with partners Opera-Matic and Envision Unlimited.   


Team Spirit:  None of this would be possible without our great team -- Kathryn Trumbull Fimreite, Lisa Hasenbalg, Jennifer Cullerton Johnson, Rebecca Memoli, Mark Molenda, Noemi Villasenor, Nakia Brown, Daya Stanley and Barb Koenen. 

Most of the CCRx Team : )
Most of the CCRx Team : )

And our fantastic Board: President Julia Talbot, Secretary Liz Libby, Treasurer Ilene Siemer, and Amber Ginsburg, Lauren Pacheco, Helen Tsatsos, Katie + Tim Tuten, Cynthium Johnson Woodfolk, Matt Nielson, Sathia Elias, Joy Rifkin and Carmen Curet.

Heartfelt thanks to special supporters Chuck Thurow, Envision Unlimited, Harper Court Art Council, Illinois Arts Council Agency, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and many others. 

Our Intro to CCRx video is still a great way to learn about us!  Find it at www.creativechirx.org/about


Follow Us! - www.creativechirx.org    Sign up for our enewsletter#creativechirx  on Facebook and Instagram and check out our Ebay Charity Sales page.  Sign up for our enewsletter, follow us on FB, and spread the word -- Trash is just a failure of imagination! 


CCRx is for Everyone!  While our focus is teachers, we are open to everyone!  Book an appointment to shop the warehouse, volunteer, donate, and/or take a workshop.    




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"Trash is just a failure of imagination"

CPS Vendor #19517

EIN #47-4679301

Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange is a one-of-a-kind store dedicated to the reduction of material waste and the creative reuse of resources. We are a resource to Chicago teachers, artists, and nonprofits looking to find new life in surplus materials, supplies, and equipment. Our mission is to promote sustainability and help the community by providing access to resources that would otherwise be discarded. We offer a wide range of items and our goal is to help you find the perfect item for your project. Come check us out and discover the possibilities!

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