Volunteer Spotlight: Sara Rogers-Smith
ACR would seriously not be possible without our amazing team of Core Volunteers! They bring their dedication and expertise to our organization every day and help make ACR the fun and welcoming place it is.
We’re putting a spotlight on one of those amazing core volunteers - Sara Rogers-Smith.
Since January 2025, this crafty Austin transplant has been turning her love of repurposing into action at ACR. Drawn in by a first look at donated beads and the vibrant volunteer community, Sara sorts, packages, and prices with a keen eye and a big smile. When she’s not transforming materials into mini quilts for For Every Child, she’s creating intricate beaded embroidery, tackling puzzles, or enjoying audiobooks with her two cats, Andrew and Darlene. Formerly a stay-at-home parent and lifelong arts-and-conservation enthusiast, Sara proves that volunteering is as much about community, creativity, and fun as it is about giving back.
Read on to learn more about Sara and why she loves to volunteer at ACR, and check out the video we posted to our social media accounts recently where she shared more of her perspectives around volunteering with ACR.
What motivates you to volunteer?
In the beginning, I started to volunteer because I had some extra time and wanted to fill that time with something worthwhile. But once I started to volunteer regularly, I enjoyed the relationships I was building with other volunteers and being part of that community.
Why ACR?
Why not? There is no better place! I have been a customer at ACR for many years. I always tell people that ACR has all the things that you didn’t know that you needed. At the first ACR reuse market where I was a vendor, an ACR staff member asked me if I would be interested in volunteering to sort, package and price beads since my art uses a lot of beads. My oldest child had just started college and my younger child was being more independent so it was perfect timing as I now had more available time and could volunteer weekly.
How long have you volunteered with ACR?
I started in January 2025.
Are you more into the arts aspect of ACR or the conservation aspect?
I am more focused on the conversation aspect. I really enjoy repurposing items and finding a new function for items that otherwise would not be used.
What do you enjoy the most out of volunteering at ACR?
I am not going to lie, getting a first look at the beads donated to ACR is a great benefit. Even if I am not going to purchase anything, I do enjoy sorting and pricing the beads. I also really love all the friendships I have created at ACR.
Do you volunteer elsewhere?
Yes, for the last couple of years I have created crocheted face clothes for For Every Child. This organization puts together backpacks of supplies for kids who have been separated from their families. When my children were younger, I was focused on volunteering at their schools. I set up snack programs, coat closets and managed a school store for a middle school.
What do you do for work?
I have been a stay at home parent since 2006.
Tell us about your most recent creative project!
I am currently using my fabric stash and fabric panels I have gotten from ACR to make mini quilts to donate to For Every Child.
What other hobbies or interests do you like to spend time on?
Creating beaded embroidery art has been my main interest in the last couple of years. But I also spend time with my family, working on puzzles and listening to audiobooks.
Are you from Austin? If not, where are you from?
I was born and raised on Long Island in New York. Then I moved to Maryland for college and lived there for 12 years. We moved to Austin in 2004.
Do you have any pets?
Yes, two cats - Andrew (a tabby) and Darlene (a tuxedo).
Do you like to do creative projects with your kids or grandkids?
I loved doing creative projects with my kids when they were little. Now that they are older, we don’t do projects together anymore but I wish I could.