Call for Volunteers: Help Us Set Up the New Store!

WOW! It's been a wild ride over the past two weeks... Thank you to everyone who has helped us make it through the chaos, starting from the time the roof collapsed on the Liberty Warehouse on Saturday, May 14 to the end of the day Saturday, May 28 when we closed the doors and said goodbye to our temporary space at 539 Foster St.

We are now entering a new and exciting phase for The Scrap Exchange. We have relocated to a permanent home at 923 Franklin St. in Durham (directly behind Golden Belt). We have closed store operations for a week, and will use the time to set up the new store and prepare for a grand reopening on Saturday, June 4.

New home, new store, new beginnings... but same mission. After 20 years, The Scrap Exchange is still dedicated to promoting creativity, environmental awareness and community through reuse. We still collect, so you can create.

We look at this new home as the opportunity to create a huge art installation, and that installation is called our Scrap Exchange retail store. We invite YOU to help us get it installed! This week, we welcome any volunteers who would like to help us prepare the space and get The Scrap Exchange ready for a grand reopening on Saturday June 4. Volunteers can report to 923 Franklin St, Bays 1 and 2, from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm on May 31, June 1 and June 2.

Volunteer tasks will include cleaning, painting, fixture installation, unpacking, preparing store displays, preparing signage, setting up the Artist Marketplace and Gallery, preparing the party room, setting out inventory and much, much more. We are going to have a blast!

We are still working out issues with phone and internet service, so feel free to simply show up this week during the times posted above and dig in. The Scrap Exchange serves the community, and we'd love to have the community join us on installing the fabulous art installation we like to call The Scrap Exchange store and warehouse.


See you at the (new and improved) Scrap!

Music Festival Organized to Help Save the Scrap Exchange

The Durham community is rallying around two Durham nonprofit art institutions; The Scrap Exchange and the Liberty Arts Foundry. The organizations, along with many artists and businesses have been displaced from their Liberty Warehouse location due to the heavy rains that fell May 14, a partial roof collapse, and the subsequent condemning of the building.


In an effort to help the nonprofits secure a new location, offset any costs lost in relocation and help in reopening as soon as possible, the local music community will be putting on a day-long benefit show: Save the Scrap (and the Foundry) at Casbah on Saturday, June 4 from 1pm-1am.

Save the Scrap will feature (at least) 10 hours of music by 10+ bands for 10 bucks. All of the money will go towards the Scrap Exchangeʼs Capital Campaign and Liberty Arts Foundry relocation. Event organizers have received an outpouring of support from local venue owners and area musicians representing all genres of music; the following are just a few of the performers:

Phil Cook &His Feat, LiLa, Rainbow Nerd, Midtown Dickens, Durham Ukelele Orchestra, Pnuerotics, Mary Johnson Rockers, Hindugrass, Sara Bell, JKuchma and Thee Dirtybeats

Additionally, Casbah will be hosting an Artist Market featuring the work of local artists, artisans and friends of the Liberty Warehouse tenants. The Scrap Exchange will be on site with a hands-on make and take, silk screening Save the Scrap on apparel provided by attendees. Attendees are encouraged to bring an extra shirt!

Both The Scrap Exchange and Liberty Arts Inc will be relocating to a permanent location in the mill behind Golden Belt, at 923 Franklin Street. The Scrap Exchange plans to reopen the same day as the event, during itʼs regular store hours 10-4.

Save the Scrap organizers are calling out to all of those who vowed to support “the myriad of places we have all come to love... and to support Durhamʼs nonprofits” in last monthʼs massive show of community engagement, Marry Durham.

Do Right By Durham. Save the Scrap. For more information please contact benefit organizer Dave Rogers by email at dorightbydurham@gmail.com.

Call for volunteers - The Scrap Exchange is on the move again!

Hello to the best and most supportive community in the world. YOU are the reason we married Durham!

We want to let you know about some exciting plans ahead as we fight to secure our future. We are in the process of securing a long-term arrangement to move to a space inside a wonderful historic brick textile mill building located at 923 Franklin St. in Durham, behind Golden Belt. This building provides us the space we need to stabilize and continue current operations and programs, while also giving us the time we need to raise funding to purchase a permanent home.

And so, we are moving again. That’s right, we need to pack up and move the retail store for the second time in less than two weeks. No one ever said crisis management was easy! Here’s what you need to know about what is happening over the next week, and some ways you can help.

• The Scrap Exchange retail store, temporarily located at 539 Foster St., will be closed from Friday May 27 through Friday June 3. We will use this time to move the store and set up in our new long-term space at 923 Franklin St. (We will let you shop from any materials remaining in our old store at 548 Foster St through May 28. The deal is still the same: donate $10, take as much as you like.)

• We will reopen on Saturday, June 4 in our new location at 923 Franklin St, right behind Golden Belt in Durham.

• We need volunteers (again!!!) to help us move. We are asking for volunteers on Friday, May 27 from 11 am to 5 pm, and on Saturday, May 28 from 9 am to 5 pm. Volunteers should report to 539 Foster St, our current temporary address. Volunteers will be boxing up materials, labeling and staging all the different sections of the store, loading materials and fixtures into vans and trucks, and moving everything over to the new store location. Please dress appropriately!

• We can use the following items on Friday and Saturday to help us move: boxes, packing tape, extra-large trash bags, handcarts, trucks and vans. If anyone wants to drop off some snacks and beverages for our hard-working volunteer crew, that would be lovely too!

• And finally, please plan ahead to spend the day in Durham on Saturday, June 4! Start it out by visiting our new store when we reopen at 10 am at 923 Franklin St. Then, swing on by the Beaver Queen Pageant from 4-7 pm at Duke Park Meadow. And don’t miss the Save the Scrap fundraiser hosted by Casbah and Do Right by Durham from 1 pm to 1 am. 10 hours of music, 10 bands, 10 bucks.

Thank you so much for your patience, understanding, donations, volunteer effort and overall awesome support as we work through this crisis. The first move represented a reaction to a crisis. This second move represents a path to the future. We intend to not simply survive what has happened, we intend to THRIVE!

As always, with much love and immense gratitude,
Ann Woodward and the entire Scrap Exchange staff and board

18 Ways That You Can Help The Scrap Exchange

Thanks to all the amazing volunteers who helped move The Scrap Exchange out of our old retail store at 548 Foster St. this past week.  We could not have done this without you.

This is a huge time of transition for The Scrap Exchange and we’re going to need to lean on our wonderful community to continue to keep the doors open. Here’s what you can do as we move forward:


• Donate Money to our Capital Campaign so we can secure a permanent location

• Shop in the store at 539 Foster Street! M-F 11-5, Th 11-6, Sat 10-5 & Sun 12-5

• Be ready to volunteer to move the rest of our inventory out of the old building

• Help us raise money by hosting a fundraising dinner or party in our honor!

• Be patient with us as we work out the details of our new space and plans

• Spread news about our situation on Facebook, blogs, and Twitter

• Hire us to come to your school, festival, carnival or business event

• Donate some really fancy materials to the store for re-sale

• Sponsor our upcoming fundraiser party, Scrap a Go-Go!

• Come party with us on 3rd Friday (May 20!) from 6-9 pm

• Come to our 20th anniversary party on June 17th

• Talk to your friends and get them involved!

• Donate staples and rolls of masking tape

• Submit art to our 20/20 art show in June

• Plan to have your birthday party here!

• Join our Friends’ Club!

• Shop on our Ebay site

• Plan a fieldtrip here!

The Scrap Exchange is a non-profit creative reuse center celebrating 20 years. It is our mission to promote creativity, environmental awareness and community through reuse.

We intend to continue fulfilling this mission regardless of any obstacles.

Update on Moving Out Weekend

Update! Here is the latest information on our moving out weekend.
First, a HUGE thank you to everyone who showed up today to help out. You are simply, the best...

We still need volunteers on Sunday. Lots of volunteers.
Please come as originally scheduled from 11am-3pm. If you have large boxes to help us pack materials into, please bring them - we really need big boxes.

We will not be able to move everything out. There is simply not enough time. Therefore, on Sunday afternoon we are offering a large variety of the materials still remaining in our old retail space to the public in exchange for a $10 donation to our Capital Campaign. People should bring their own boxes to take materials away - we will not be able to provide them. This will be a "bring you own container and take what you want" deal. The public can remove materials from 12pm-3pm on Sunday, May 22. We simply ask for the donation, and to allow our volunteers to do the important work of removing items that we need to keep. Please pass this on ASAP to teachers and artists, friends and family, and anyone else you can think of. This offer only applies to materials in the old retail space (548 Foster) and will not apply to the yard sale items set out at our temp location at 539 Foster. Those items will be priced separately.

In summary, we need volunteers to help move the fixtures and materials we want to keep, and we need the public to take away materials they can use so they don't get wasted. Please pass this updated info on as quickly as possible!!! Thanks to everyone for your help, hard work, good wishes, donations, determination, cooperation and faith in our vision. Your support is what keeps us going!

With love and gratitude from Ann and the entire Scrap Exchange staff and board

A Call for Volunteers

Hello fabulous community we need volunteers please! All are welcome....
The Liberty Warehouse tenants would love your help this weekend moving
out of their spaces. We are all scrambling to get our stuff out by Monday May 23rd, and if you come to the Scrap at 548 Foster St. this weekend, we can also let you know about the others that need assistance.

I know folks are busy and we are grateful for any participation.
Here are the details.

First, thank you to all AMAZING volunteers/staff/
board/committees/neighbors/NC Center for Non profits/ and most
especially DENNY CLARKE for a clean, well lit space! Here's what is happening next:

When:
Saturday May 21   10:00-2:00
Sunday May 22      11:00-3:00

What: We will be cleaning out the space entirely, all contents will be
packed up and moved, All must go! Mostly Mongo room, backstock(bodega),
and all the rest. (8,000 sq. ft- lots lots and lots of stuff- a scary
amount- took out 40% so far- thank you all who made it happen)

We will have:
1. Table of tools to be used to dismantle and use for the job
2. Snacks and refreshments (we will have stuff and if you bring stuff it
is good too)
3. A ribbon making station for being so fabulous/community minded....you
fill in the blank.

Please bring/be prepared:
1. We may have you sign a waiver, this is an at risk situation, although
it seems pretty safe.
2. If you are allergic to mold- you can still come, but I suggest you
volunteer across the street at our right now space unloading.
3. Please dress appropriately- it's a warehouse, and we are moving lots
of stuff, AND you know we also like tiaras, hats, boas, sparkly stuff,
wigs, outfits, you know how we roll. AND gloves, tools, handtrucks,
boxes (would be great)too, we will also have some of that stuff.

Thank you and hope to see you then! We do have some vehicles too- box
truck for Saturday, and two of our Cargo vans on Sunday. We will be
loading, unloading, filling up boxes, etc.

This is great for folks who:
1. Like to organize
3. Like to make things right
4. Like to move lots of stuff from one place to another, and put things
in boxes with labels on them.
5. Like to meet new people and create community.
6. Like to carry heavy stuff, and drive big trucks.

Thank you!

Also on Saturday: We are Co-sponsoring our 8th year of FREE YOGA in the
Park: starts Saturday: 9:00-10:00ish- above the pavilion in Durham
Central Park - Bryan from Pantajalis Place will kick it off...thank you
Jewel for all of your years of organizing, and thank you Ruth Eckles for
organizing it this year. Namaste.

Ann Woodward
Executive Director
The Scrap Exchange

What's Happening Over the Next Few Days!

You can't keep a good organization down. 

As we have been forced to react to events beyond our control, our executive director Ann Woodward has been adamant about one thing. The Scrap Exchange will continue to support all scheduled programming and retail store operations to the best of our ability. Scheduled events have taken top priority, and the show is going on! We are not missing one class, or cancelling any party or event. The party room is installed, outreach programming is on schedule, and the planned gallery show opening on Third Friday will be given a special place in our new location. Here is a list of the events happening in the next week.

Exhibit Opening Friday, May 20 at The Scrap Exchange:
Revamp, Reuse, Recycle Tour

a group exhibit from String Things fiber-art collaborative

Friday, May 20 – Saturday, June 11
Opening Reception: Friday, May 20 from 6 to 9 pm

A local fiber collaborative, String Things, will exhibit a variety of creative reuse items made from repurposed supplies (many purchased at the Scrap Exchange). The exhibit will include baskets and bowls made from surgical tubing, handbags made from chicken wire and crochet rugs made from plastic grocery bags. There will also be ladies’ accessories, along with baby and children’s items made from upcycled supplies. All proceeds from this exhibit will benefit The Scrap Exchange. Thank you String Things for your flexibility in making this show happen and your genorosity in donating all proceeds!

Raleigh Reuse Rodeo
The next Reuse Rodeo is scheduled on May 21 from 10am-2pm at The Habitat ReStore in Raleigh. For complete details, go to http://thescrapexchange.blogspot.com/2011/05/reuse-rodeo-scheduled-for-raleigh.html


Scrap Exchange Collecting Kitchen Items to Assist Green Chair

The Scrap Exchange is helping fellow reuse business the Green Chair Project (www.thegreenchair.org) by collecting kitchen items from May 14th through May 20th.

The Green Chair Project is a Raleigh-based group that helps families in need get back on their feet. Recently, The Green Chair has been very focused on supporting families affected by the recent tornados. You can help us help them provide this support! Simply stop by the store and bring your donation; we are collecting used pots, pans, dishes, utensils, glasses, baking & serving pieces, measuring cups, measuring spoons and small appliances: coffee pots, toasters/toaster ovens, can openers, etc.

A barrel will be available in the front of the store where you can place your donation of kitchen items. We will be collecting through the conclusion of Third Friday festivities on Friday, May 20. All donations will be delivered to The Green Chair at the Raleigh Reuse Rodeo on May 21.

Two Classes Remaining in Our Spring Class Series

Two classes remain in our spring class series. Details are listed below. Space is available in both classes. To register, email Rowan Martell at events@scrapexchange.org.

May 22: Fun and Funky Mosaic Basics

Jeannette Brossart

Create a fun and funky indoor mosaic using ceramic tile, glass, and whatever else we can rustle up! Learn how to use tile nippers to custom shape your design. We’ll be using tile mastic, no grout needed!

Date: Sunday, May 22
Time: 2 – 4pm
Cost: $50
Ages: 12 and up

Jeannette Brossart has been a professional mosaic artist since 2003. Her work has been featured in art and sculpture exhibits, print, and public installations. She has taught mosaics at several venues including the John Campbell Folk School and The Scrap Exchange.


May 26: Alter Ego Open Studio

Ann May Woodward and Allyn Meredith

Do you have an alter ego? Are you interested in creating one? Are you looking to manifest a character that represents another side of you? Is there an internal dialogue that’s ready for an external expression? Need a cape, tiara, or mask? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should attend this open studio. Instructors Allyn Meredith and Ann Woodward will host the open studio, and provide tools and assistance for projects.

Date: Thursday, May 26
Time: 6:30 – 8pm
Cost: $5
Ages: all ages welcome

Ann Woodward has been making art and unique one of-a-kind designs for over twenty years. Materials are generally the motivating factor for her in the creative process. Currently she is also the director of The Scrap Exchange and is very motivated to help others “be as creative as they can be.”

Allyn Meredith learned about costuming when she lived in New Orleans, where masquerade expands the meaning of ordinary. Allyn panders to this art form in both traditional and peculiar realms. Most recently, she built and donned the Queen Bee of the Sweet Transformation of Disappointment for the Triangle Soundpainting Orchestra at Manbites Dog Theatre and continued the “performance” at a local brewery. She looks forward to helping others create outer manifestations from inner longings.


Remember, you don't have to wait for an event to make a trip out to The Scrap.  Please stop in and SHOP today in our new store at 539 Foster St.  The store is stocked, organized and ready for YOU!

We’re Across the Street

Holy cow, the last two days were so exciting we didn’t even get a post up.

We opened on Monday, as noted in our last post. But on Monday afternoon the city inspectors came around, and when they were done inspecting, they left bright green CONDEMNED stickers all around the building. (We added the frame ourselves. It is a nice touch, no?)

On Tuesday, the building owners told us that when we left for the day, we should take everything we needed with us as the locks had been re-keyed and we would need an escort to get back in to the building.

This does not work so well when you are trying to run a retail operation.

We went across the street and talked to our wonderful, kind, benevolent neighbor Denny Clark. We asked if we could temporarily set up shop in his building while we try to figure out what is going on. He said we could.

Denny Clark is our hero.

We were open for business at 11 o’clock on Wednesday at 539 Foster Street, directly across from Liberty Warehouse.

Here’s a little video about the move.




And WRAL has some footage of it too. Along with aerial photos of the Liberty Warehouse roof.

The biggest snafu we’ve had so far was trying to forward the phones so we could receive calls — the phone numbers somehow ended up disconnected. We’re working with Frontier to straighten that out and restore our voicemail. Hopefully that will be resolved soon.

Come see us!

The Scrap Exchange is Open!

We have received clearance from the building owners to re-open, so we are back in business on our usual schedule. Hope to see you!

Liberty Warehouse Closed!

There was storm damage to Liberty Warehouse (the building in which The Scrap Exchange is housed) on Saturday, May 14. The building is closed until the situation can be fully evaluated.

The Scrap Exchange retail store will remain closed until we receive clearance that it is safe to re-open.

Aside from some water problems—which we are more or less prepared to deal with by now as we experience flooding on a regular basis—our retail store area was not directly affected by the problems, though our upstairs warehouse storage area was very near the collapsed portion of the roof.

Thankfully, no one was injured.

Reuse Rodeo Scheduled for Raleigh, Saturday May 21

The Triangle Reuse Alliance is hosting the Raleigh Reuse Rodeo in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity ReStore of Wake County! Residents can bring certain reusable materials to one location for the benefit of multiple local non-profits dedicated to reuse and waste reduction.

The event will be held on Saturday May 21, 2011 from 10am-2pm at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Wake County at 2420 Raleigh Blvd., Raleigh.

The Raleigh Reuse Rodeo is the second in a series of events that the Triangle Reuse Alliance hopes will sweep the nation! The idea is to raise awareness about the many organizations that focus on reuse while also getting useful items out of storage and out of the house so they can do some good in our community. All participating organizations will have staff and information available, and the Triangle Reuse Alliance will have a table loaded with local reuse resource information. Tax receipts will be available for all donations.

The Habitat ReStore (www.habitatwake.org/restore) will be collecting donations, including:

  - New or used structurally sound building materials
  - Flooring
  - Tiles
  - Wood
  - Large appliances

Visit their website for additional information on acceptable donations.

The Green Chair Project (www.thegreenchair.org) will accept:

  - Gently used upholstered furniture
  - Dressers
  - Tables and chairs

Please do not bring mattresses. The Green Chair Project helps families in the Triangle area, including those affected by the recent tornado.

The Kramden Institute (www.kramden.org) will collect computer equipment and parts, including:

  - laptops 800 MHz and faster
  - desktop computers - 1 GHz and faster
  - LCD displays in working condition with power supplies
  - hard drives - 20 GB and larger
  - memory - 256 MB and larger
  - optical drives - CD/CDRW/DVD/DVDRW
  - USB flash (thumb) drives
  - Clean and working non-beige mice/keyboards
  - computer speakers - clean working with power supplies

Please do not bring CRT monitors.

ReTails Thrift Shop (www.animalkind.org/retails.html) will be on hand collecting housewares and furniture, including:

  - Garden furniture, decorative garden pieces
  - Housewares,including tableware, cookware, decorative pieces, small appliances, cd, dvd, stereos, cassette players and radios.

The Scrap Exchange (www.scrapexchange.org) will be on hand accepting the following items:

  - Fabric
  - Sewing notions such as thread, needles and buttons
  - Yarn
  - Craft / Art supplies
  - Corks, bottle caps, twist ties
  - Picture frames

Wake Relief (www.wakerelief.org) will collect:

  - canned goods
  - boxed macaroni and cheese
  - peanut butter

No glass containers please.

Please make sure that all items are clean, in working order, and are appropriate for reuse in our community and please limit your donations to the items requested. Volunteers will be on hand to help you unload your donations if necessary. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Jessica Moore: (919) 968-2788 or email operations@scrapexchange.org.

More about the participating organizations:

The Green Chair Project (http://www.thegreenchair.org/) makes furnishings available at a low cost to individuals and families referred to them by their partner agencies. Help them rebuild Raleigh and the surrounding areas affected by the tornado.

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore (www.habitatwake.org/restore) generates revenue to build new Habitat homes in Wake County and encourages all of us to be good stewards of our environment.

The Kramden Institute (http://www.kramden.org/) empowers hardworking, less-advantaged students by giving them home computers, allowing them to bridge the digital divide and advance their achievement, strengthening their contribution to the community. They do this by collecting, refurbishing, and reusing computers, extending their useful lives.

ReTails Thrift Shop (www.animalkind.org/retails.html) uses 100% of its profits to support SpayNC Helpline 1-888-623-4936 and THE $20 FIX targeted pet spay/neuter assistance program. THE $20 FIX enables low-income pet owners to spay/neuter their pets for a co-pay of $20 or less.

The Scrap Exchange (http://www.scrapexchange.org/) is the premier creative reuse center in the Triangle. Since 1991, they have been collecting industrial discards and distributing these reclaimed materials through their retail store, community events, parties and workshops.

Wake Relief (http://www.wakerelief.org/) , established in 1975, is an emergency food pantry located in the Glenwood South area of Raleigh that serves over 5,000 individuals annually. It is staffed completely by volunteers, and the operation is made possible by in-kind and monetary donations from area churches, community organizations, and individuals. Food drives are always welcome.

The Triangle Reuse Alliance is building a Triangle-wide coalition to increase awareness of reuse by educating the public about the social, environmental and economic benefits of reuse. Learn more at www.facebook.com/trianglereusealliance or http://www.reusealliance.org/.

Call for Artists! 2011 Friends and Family 20/20 Show

Are you an established artist, developing artist, student artist or future artist?  Then make plans to display your work in the Green Gallery at The Scrap Exchange this summer!

Our annual Friends and Family open-hanging exhibit is coming up and we need YOU to participate. We are adding a 20th anniversary twist to this popular show. All artwork will be for sale for $20 per item, to help us celebrate 20 years as a leading creative reuse center!

Here’s where you come in. Make something cool out of reclaimed materials that you will be happy to price at $20. In fact, make several pieces! Use any medium and any subject matter. The only requirement is that you use reclaimed, reused or repurposed materials in your work. (Also, please keep in mind that our gallery is open to everyone from ages 1 to 101, and we host children's activities daily. So please keep any subject matter appropriate for kids and adults alike.)   This show will include our traditional 60/40 split- the artist receives 60% of any sale and the Scrap Exchange receives 40%. Submit as many pieces as you like, we want to completely fill the gallery with art!

You can come in and hang the work yourself June 14th, 15th, and 16th. We will post exact hanging times at a later date. The show will open Friday June 17th with a big 20th birthday party for the Scrap Exchange from 6-9 pm.

So, it’s time to get busy and start creating art! Call us if you’d like more details at 919-688-6960.

The Friends and Family 20/20 Show will run from June 17 through July 9.