End of Year Update: A Letter From Our Executive Director

Executive Director Update - End of Year 2020 Greetings, ACR Community! As we prepare to say goodbye to another year, we would like to take a moment to celebrate the dedicated community that lifted us up every day in 2020.  At ACR, we aim to build a community that inspires, encourages and supports each other, and during this challenging year, you have inspired, encouraged and supported us. Because of you, ACR has continued to stay strong and to grow, even in the midst of a global pandemic.  Thank you for helping us make reuse dreams come true! In 2020, ACR celebrated the fifth anniversary of our opening Austin’s first and only creative reuse center.  In honor of that milestone, here are five things we’re looking forward to in 2021: 

1. Creating a vibrant community destination in East Austin.  We chose our new location in the Windsor Park neighborhood of East Austin for its potential to be more than a retail store.  We look forward to continuing to grow into our new space in 2021 and to creating a place where folks can come to learn, explore and create with us through workshops, artist collaborations, reuse galleries and markets, and more.  
2. Pursuing joyful collaborations.  The pandemic has impacted Austin’s communities and community organizations in so many different ways.  As we all continue to adapt, we look forward to continuing to support existing partners through these changes and to building new partnerships with groups working throughout Austin.  We aim to be a good neighbor by building strong relationships with Windsor Park’s neighborhood schools, libraries, small businesses and other community groups.
3. Welcoming new volunteers.  Volunteers have always been an integral part of our team. Their generous gifts of time and talent - 47% of our total labor hours in our last fiscal year! - keep our wheels turning and connect the community to our work.  We look forward to the launch of our new volunteer portal in 2021 which will expand volunteer opportunities and make it easier than ever to volunteer with ACR.  
4. Bringing reuse out into the community.  At ACR, we believe that conservation is a job that needs all of us.  We look forward to expanding our outreach and education initiatives in 2021 and sharing the joy and impact of creative reuse throughout our community.
5. Seeing your smiling faces again.  We have missed you this year.  We look forward to the day when we can safely reopen our new center at full capacity and bring our community back together again.

Like all good things, we know that 2021 will not always be easy.  As I write this, Covid-19 cases in Austin continue to rise and our center is once again closed to the public for the safety and wellbeing of our staff, volunteers and community.  There are still challenges to come.  You can help ACR meet those challenges by shopping in our online store, buying a gift card for yourself or a friend, donating gently used creative materials, making a financial contribution or simply sharing your love for ACR with your friends and family. From all of us at ACR, we wish you health and happiness in 2021! ~ Jennifer EvansExecutive DirectorDecember 28, 2020