This innovative program locates and collects overruns, rejects and by-products that business and industry treat as "waste" and redistributes the materials as valuable educational and artistic resources appropriate for reuse. Donors have an opportunity to dispose of materials free of charge, clear valuable storage space, receive tax deductions and support cultural and educational programs. The donation of tangible property is one no-cost method for companies to support nonprofit organizations in their communities.

The building that housed our retail store gave way to UIC's expansion along Halstead, and after several rounds of inventory reducing sell-offs, the Resource Center was forced to move the CRW's remaining collection to its own headquarters on 135th.  The location is limited in capacity to hold, and especially to display merchandise.  It is also far from the ideal location for a store that is intended to serve all of the teachers i the Chicago area.  The Resource Center is committed to maintaining the personnal and infrastructure of the CRW, and we are currently searching for a new, cost-effective location for the retail store that will aloow us to serve a broad base of shoppers.

Who are the recipients? Chicago schools and teachers, local cultural centers, social service organizations, summer programs, performance companies, museums, community organizations as well as individual artists. Recipients have used materials to teach classes, present art work, and to make possible exhibitions and productions. The materials go a long way toward making up for teaching and art resources that many urban schools and organizations cannot afford to purchase.

The long-term possibilities of a project like the CRW are incredible.  We look forward to tapping the enormous potential of data-management systems to match potential material donors with recipients.  We plan to develop an integrated database of the CRW's inventory that teachers and artists could inspect online.  We also envision a Craftmobile program that would deliver pre-ordered materials directly to schools.