WabiSabi operates two
thrift stores in Moab where one can find a very
large variety of items. |
Founded to support local nonprofits, WabiSabi
has evolved into a community hub. WabiSabi a nonprofit
thrift store based in Moab, Utah, provides educational
outreach and financial contributions that enable community
organizations and individuals to improve and sustain the
environment, support youth development, increase quality
of life for all species, and enrich our community through
expanded art opportunities and increased cultural awareness.
WabiSabi has won awards and recognition for its work, including
The 2005 Achievement Award in Pollution Prevention — Community
Involvement Programs Category by The Utah Pollution Prevention
Association, the “2005 Non-profit Volunteer Program
of the Year” by the Utah Office of the Lieutenant
Governor and “The Best Reason to Visit Moab” in
City Weekly’s Best of Utah 2007.
WabiSabi’s name comes from a Japanese term that speaks
of the beauty of imperfection. It reminds us that new is
not necessarily nicer. Cracks, chips and worn spots are
signs of life that reveal a rich history — a history
touched by life. With this in mind, WabiSabi was chosen
as a fitting name for an organization with two thrift stores
that sell used merchandise. The WabiSabi Thriftique, located
at 350 South 400 East, is not your typical thrift store.
It features only the best in used quality clothing, collectibles,
books, sportswear and camping equipment. The WabiSabi Warehouse,
located at 145 West 200 South, has a large retail selection
of reduced price clothing, furniture, house-wares, children’s
items and building materials.
At WabiSabi’s
Annual Mardi Gras Fashion Show locals design
and model unique fashion lines using recycled
materials. |
These thrift shops offer the community a
way to recycle materials that could potentially be deposited
in the landfill. WabiSabi provides a positive answer to the
question of where and how to discard old or unwanted material
items. WabiSabi would like to see 100% of the materials donated
to their stores either sold, given away to other community
organizations that are in need of the item(s), or recycled
so WabiSabi continues to create new ways to keep materials
out of the landfill. This includes free workshops that promote
and teach alternative uses for discarded items. Past Workshops
have included making braided rugs from rags, recycled Holiday
gifts and composting.
Due to the high volume of quality donations, WabiSabi is
able to donate excess goods to other communities and organizations
in need. Each month WabiSabi delivers a truck and trailer
full of clothing, household items and other materials to
a distribution site as part of WabiSabi’s Community
to Community Outreach Program. The deliveries serve hundreds
of families in the South Eastern Utah and in The Navajo Nation.
Distribution sites haveincluded White Mesa Chapter House,
The Kayenta Shelter, Bluff Chapter House, Red Mesa Chapter
House, and Shiprock, NM.
In addition to promoting recycling, individuals who donate
to WabiSabi are supporting community nonprofits. WabiSabi
distributes financial awards to local nonprofits from the
funds generated at the two stores. When individuals donate
items or make a purchase they are asked to vote for one of
WabiSabi’s nonprofit partners. All of the nonprofit
partners receive financial awards twice a year but the number
of votes for that nonprofit partner determines the amount.
The more votes a nonprofit gets the bigger financial award
it will get. Nonprofit partners are selected each year and
WabiSabi. The nonprofit organizations selected focus on The
Environment, Youth Development, Women’s Issues, Community
Enrichment, Arts, and Cultural Awareness.
WabiSabi’s Nonprofit Partners for 2007 are The Amigos
Club, BEACON Afterschool Adventure Program, The Bike Barn,
Canyonlands Community Recycling Center, Grand County Hospice,
Humane Society, KZMU Community Radio, Living Rivers, The
Moab Valley Multicultural Center, The Native American Club,
Seekhaven, and The Youth Garden Project.
WabiSabi supports many other nonprofits as well. Each store
has a nonprofit information center with brochures, handouts,
and flyers from local nonprofits and nonprofit organizations
can receive free vouchers for material goods. The WabiSabi
Nonprofit Network was recently formed to provide additional
support for local nonprofits. The mission of The WabiSabi
Nonprofit Network is to encourage cooperative efforts among
organizations, provide nonprofits with a greater voice in
the community, strengthen the quality of nonprofit leadership
and management, and promote greater understanding of the
role and impact of nonprofit organizations in communities.
Nonprofit organizations are also eligible to receive funding
through WabiSabi’s Make A Difference in Moab Fund.
The Make A Difference in Moab Fund awards grants to projects
by nonprofits or individuals that demonstrate a desire to
improve our environment, enhance our quality of living and/or
increase our sustainability as a community. The fund is open
to all that believe that they can make a positive difference
in Moab. This fund has been used to start several nonprofit
organizations including The Bike Barn, The Moab Valley Multicultural
Center, and Community Rebuilds. It has also provided funding
for a Cancer Survivor Calendar that is raising money for
Cancer research, Outdoor Movie Night at the Youth Garden
Project and English Language Learner Classes.
All of these programs would not be possible if it was not
for the incredible support WabiSabi receives from the community.
WabiSabi relies on over 100 volunteers that serve each year,
helping to run the thrift stores, sort donations, and plan
special events and fundraisers. Volunteers of any skill level
are always welcome.
For more information about WabiSabi visit their Website www.wabisabi.org
or stop by one their stores. |