Allen and Nancy Tate – Community Leadership through Volunteerism

Allen and Nancy volunteer at Lancaster Creative Reuse.

Lancaster Creative Reuse (LCR) 501(c)(3) was established in 2009 by co-founders Jeannie Zeller and Andrea Stoner Leaman who saw the potential in untapped supply resources, generated by both individuals and businesses, that were often destined for landfills.

Homestead Village residents Nancy and Allen Tate have been a volunteers with the Lancaster Creative Reuse Store for numerous years. Since 2010, Nancy has been a volunteer in the store and helps with processing materials and donations.  Allen has been involved for over 10 years of which the past 5 years as a Board member and for the past 3 years as Board President . They both have been a part of LCR’s  growth.

In addition to being a wonderful way to reuse, recycle and sell affordable crafting items that may otherwise be discarded, the organization also serves the greater community by providing low cost or free materials to many community groups such as the Lancaster Refugee Project, Boys and Girls Club, Lancaster Humane Society, HDC Ruoff Senior House, schools, senior centers, and more!

The mission of Lancaster Creative Reuse is “to connect community excess to those who can use it creatively. Through the low-cost store, Open Craft Table and education programs, LCR inspires creativity, increases access to the arts through affordability, and encourages reuse.”

Many times, when people are downsizing, one of the hardest things to part with is their craft supplies. Craft materials are more than just items; they represent ideas and dreams of projects that you’ve always hoped to make with that special piece of fabric or that ball of yarn. But sometimes there’s just too many projects to do, and un-used supplies just stay in drawer and gather dust. This is where Lancaster Creative Reuse comes in!

If you would like to donate items to the shop, small donations of two bags or less can be brought to the store and dropped off. If you have more than two bags the store asks for you to schedule an appointment to drop off the items and have them examined so they can be sure that there is room for them and someone to assist you—Occasionally, pick up service is also available for very large donations.

If you’re looking to become involved in a wonderful and creative atmosphere that also gives back to the community— consider joining Allen and Nancy at Homestead Village, and at Lancaster Creative Reuse!