The Spring rains have arrived, but at least we can finally feel our fingertips and toes. Though we continued deconstruction services and opened the Re-Source and kept it open every week for customers during the cruel winter months, we’re ecstatic for the coming of spring. We’re energized to begin exciting projects in the neighborhood. We have big plans for gardens and park spaces; artistic murals to beautify blighted buildings; and educational opportunities, as well as, unique materials for sale at the ReSOURCE. Finally, we’re already at the point where we can further expand our hours. Next week, the ReSource will always be open Tuesdays through Fridays, 7:30am to 5:00pm, Saturday 9 to 5. (Update: we’re now open Saturdays 7:30-5) We welcome you to stop in and peruse our ever growing inventory of rescued building materials.

Thank you for your on-going support.

As always, we invite you to get involved and be a part of the action! Please check out the updates below for upcoming volunteer opportunities and events.

Blight vs. Beauty

Donn Esmonde of the Buffalo News ran a commentary in this Friday’s City&Region (Section D) describing the lift in morale of the proprietors on High Street who work and live near the vacant house adopted during the Neighborhood Peace Mural Project. So many people have already been touched by that small house–the students at The Locust Street Art School who painted the panels, the groups from UB and Daemen college that focus on neighborhood transformation and the volunteers from St. Bonaventure who secure the boards to the building. We will continue boarding up more houses as the City allows.

Are you spring cleaning or upgrading your home this season?
Now is the time to get rid of the junk in your garage and basement and attic. You can donate your old sinks, counters, cabinets, tubs and other materials to us instead of leaving it on the curb or paying the landfill fees. If it fits in your car–bring it to us! If it’s too bulky for you to manage, we can schedule a pick up. (pssst, if it’s on the curb in front of your neighbors’–you can still call us!)

Mayor Youth Summer Employment Program

Do you know someone who would like to be a Buffalo ReUse Apprentice? We are so excited about the opportunity to engage with more youth in Buffalo this summer! We’ve been approved as a job site and will provide multiple experiences–green space development, urban planning, salvage pick ups, retail support, materials processing, among others. Applicants must be 14-21yrs old and there are other requirements established by the BETC. You can pick up the application from us at the ReSource, download it here or at the BETC. The deadline is Friday May 30th.

Save-the-Date(s)

• Saturday April 12th; Volunteers from Canisus College and also UB join us to board up a house near BAVPA; come out to help with that or at the ReSource and meet . . . EVERYBODY!
• First weekend in May; we’ve registered with ReTree WNY to plant 143 trees in the Masten Park and Cold Spring neighborhoods (this is around us and Queen City Farm) There will be more details about this event very soon