The reuse center model was created 32 years ago in Boston by a forward thinking educator, Dr. Walter Drew. He is a strong supporter and mentor today for Resource Depot. Resource Depot was created in 1999 through a unique collaboration with Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County along with other local service agencies, including United Way and the School District. Resource Depot has since become a 501 © 3 agency providing free safe reusable donated materials to the community for educational, artistic, and therapeutic projects while at the same time prolonging the life of the landfill. A mission which started with one staff and one van for collection has grown to include five staff with a fourteen foot box truck for collections.

Our goal is to educate the public on methods of reusing materials for educational and artistic measures while giving the materials to them free of charge. Materials, workshops, and field trips served over 500,000 customers (parents, children, educators and a variety of nonprofits) while deferring over 160,000 pounds of reusable materials from the landfill.

Over the past year Resource Depot has participated in local community and special events, including ArtiGras, Bright Nights, Sunfest, and the South Florida Fair, by providing free hands on art projects for children and families. The Depot also supplies other nonprofits with free materials and artistic ideas for use at their booths at events. The Education Coordinator facilitated educational artistic field trips for over 1200 students, educators, and families. Field trips are offered onsite and taken offsite as well.

The Depot was nominated for the 2006-2007 Muse Awards and has a multitude of thank you certificates from other nonprofit agencies as well as being Business Partners with a variety of Palm Beach County schools. Over five hundred volunteers donated thousands of hours to Resource Depot to help at field trips, special events and shopping days.