As part of the orientation for the volunteer program that I’m doing, someone from the Rebuilding Center in Portland, OR, came to talk to us. I knew the talk was about building community, but it was so much more inspiring than I guessed.
The Rebuilding Center is basically a thrift shop of home building and remodeling materials. People donate all kinds of stuff that can be reused in conventional or creative ways. The center has expanded since its founding and now includes deconstruction services and furniture built on site out of donated materials. I didn’t get to go there, but it pretty much sounds like a haven for artists and the socially-conscious, as well as people who can’t afford full-price DIY supplies. Two things struck me about the place: one, I always forget that reusing things is a good way to be very green and two, one of the original purposes of the center was to create a source of funding for a community building project, which has its own great story.
So basically what I’m saying is, there’s no need to throw out your counter top just because you’re getting a new one, not even in Buffalo. I love the way one good thing can grow into many.
