mission
The Resource Exchange provides inspiration and reclaimed materials for
creative and environmentally resourceful making, teaching & living.
Our nonprofit shop, gallery, and workshop space promotes creative reuse, recycling, and resource conservation by diverting valuable materials from the waste stream and redirecting them to artists, builders, educators, and the general public.
Sign up for our newsletter here! Find out how to shop, donate, recreate, or get involved!
board
Karyn Gerred, Executive Director
Kate Quinn, Chair
Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
Rob Williamson, Treasurer
Corporate Controller, AAA Club Alliance
Flora Vassar, Secretary
Professional Theatre Artist | Stage Manager and Lighting Supervisor, Air Play
Kristen Fitch, Director
Director of Marketing, University City Science Center
Dennis Madigan, Director
I.A.T.S.E. 52
Erika Katz, Director
I.A.T.S.E. 52
Denise Gerred, Director
I/T Global Services, Janssen Pharmaceutica
Mike Gable, Director
Director Emeritus, Construction Junction
* In Memoriam Robert Jondreau (1946 – 2018)
Board Director
Executive Director, The Pennsylvania Resources Council
staff
Brittany Sweigart, Donation/Sales Program Staff
Genevieve DeGroot, Donation/Sales Program Staff
want to make a difference?
The Board of Directors for the Resource Exchange helps the organization pursue its mission to provide inspiration and reclaimed materials for creative and environmentally resourceful making, teaching & living. Our nonprofit reuse center promotes creative reuse, recycling, and resource conservation by diverting valuable materials from the waste stream and redirecting them to artists, builders, educators, and the general public in the Philadelphia region and beyond.
The Resource Exchange has board seats open for 2020, and we are looking for people with positivity and a passion for our mission to join our board of directors! More information here.
impact 2019
Thank you to all of our donors, volunteers, and customers for your continued support during this big year of transition for organization. Our new center on American Street, an already vibrant and growing corridor for sustainability and the arts, is now buzzing with activity…
…many soon-to-be neighbors,
YOUR creativity inspiring reuse,
& endless possibilities for 2020!
In 2019, thousands of creative projects in the Philadelphia region were made using our salvaged and donated materials. Your creative reuse stories & photos this year included:
– 2,636 studio art, craft, and individual maker projects
– 35 film, television, theatre, and performance art productions
– 58 educational institutions incorporated reuse into their classrooms
– 87 local businesses that used us as a resource
– and over 1,400 homeowners who shopped at The Resource
Exchange for furniture, housewares, decor, and other home
improvement supplies rather than buying new!
We saved over 48,000 lbs of film & theatre props, set pieces, art supplies, textiles, lumber, and many other reusable materials from landfill by putting them back into the local creative economy. These materials included over 19,000 lbs of lumber and building materials, 4.5 tons of scenery materials and props that were saved from film & theatre sets, over 5,600 lbs of art/craft materials, and almost 4,000 lbs of textiles saved from landfill!
frequently asked questions
Who can donate to The Resource Exchange?
Anyone! We are supported by many individuals, foundations, community organizations, and businesses.
Who can shop at The Resource Exchange?
Again, anyone! However, for safety reasons, our warehouse environment requires exercising due caution and adequate adult supervision of children.
Is The Resource Exchange open to the public?
Yes, our store is open to the public Tuesday though Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 12-4, with additional appointment times available for large donations and purchases. Our organization operates largely on volunteer effort, and we are actively fundraising to increase our retail hours in the future. Want us to have more store hours, and expand our work in the community? Please make a donation today!
What kinds of material do you accept?
We accept a wide range of reusable materials for building, creating, and learning. Please visit our list of commonly accepted materials.
Do you have drop-off hours?
Our space is limited, and we cannot accept drop off donations without prior approval. Please contact us in advance to discuss our donation. You may leave us a message or email with a description of your donation, and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Do you offer pick-up service?
We do not have a truck (yet!), but for larger donations, we may be able to arrange pick-up service for a fee. Please contact us first to discuss.
Holds?
Customer Holds are for credit card purchases only
• Materials bought in the store will be held no more than 7 calendar days
• Materials bought online will be held until the available pick up time you chose at check out
Items not picked up by the agreed upon time will be automatically returned to the sales floor to be resold, and you will be issued store credit via email
Returns?
Our nonprofit saves, sorts, + sells as much reclaimed material as we can with limited space, staff, and funds. So to maximize our square footage to save more materials from landfill, and to avoid the additional costs of staff reprocessing/restocking time and credit card fees, please note:
• Every effort is made to make reusable material in good condition available to our customers, but we are unable to test or guarantee materials. All items are sold “as-is” with no returns / refunds / exchanges . It is the customer’s responsibility to verify the suitability of reclaimed materials for a particular project, and we encourage you to ask any questions before buying + scheduling pick up.
Are my donations tax-deductible?
The Resource Exchange is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, and contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. Click here to fill out a tax deduction receipt for the fair market value of your goods. For more specific information regarding valuation, record keeping and reporting you may consult IRS Publication 526 and 561.