I have been working with this organization for almost a year. My students with special needs have been volunteering and learning many important work skills and experiences. They are truly support our local community and give back so much! Our students create crafts that are sold at the IU13 Winter and Spring Bazaar. Art of Recycle has given students their supplies for free and has helped to promote their mini business. Monies raised by the students go back to the students to provide them with opportunities many of them may never get to experience otherwise.Art of Recycle has also done workshops with our students. They continues to share their gifts and creativity each day. They do ALL of this and do not take a paycheck.God has blessed both Chelas and Nobody with an amazing gift. I personally am very grateful to have them as a part of the Ephrata community!
I absolutely love this craft center. Mr Special, Chelas and their volunteers are so welcoming and helpful. I have taken three of their classes this summer. They were all so much fun and I came home at the end of the evening with a finished project! They are now my favorite charity for donations. I LOVE how they Recycle things that would normally end up in a landfill.
This place is a must-visit for people who love to create. I don't live in the area, but I stop there whenever I'm nearby. I always find some neat picture frames and signs. I love that supplies of all kinds which might otherwise be thrown away are available at very low prices. It's inspiring to see art that they have created around the store, and at the same time know that reusing these items is helping to keep our planet habitable. Even the receipts are inspiring!
We were only at AoR once and my 3 1/2 year old LOVED it!!! We will definitely be going again!!! And I always keep a close eye on my child, I never assume the staff needs to babysit while I shop. Some people run all over people. Sad.
My girls (9&7) love coming here. Everyone is always so nice and friendly. My girls love the craft table . They make puppets and then go back to the puppet station and put on a show. They ask me to take them there quite often. It's a great place to take the kids.
Excellent venue for parents and children to come craft. Small children may need some supervision, as small parts are easy to swallow, but most parents SHOULD already realize this. Ms. Chelas and Mr. Nobody Special are the creative directors for this wonderful wonderland of art and craft, and I know them both to have big hearts and exciting ideas. Mr. Special can be seen at the Ephrata Park on concert nights making balloon animals. They are a team! Go as soon as you can. This is a very neat addition to the artistic community of Ephrata. As an Activity Director in a local nursing home, I couldn't do what I do as easily without this great resource.
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The first time I walked into the Art or Recycle center, I was greeted by a large tree sculpture with bells and doors and places to write wishes for the fairies to grant. I immediately knew that I had found a refuge for my creative child within to come out and play.
Since then, I have attended a sewing workshop, visited during one of the frequent Wednesday evening artistic drop by "hang out" sessions, and shopped for materials for my own projects.
I work as an activity professional with the elderly population and am always in the market for low cost art materials for them and for easy high success projects to help my clients express themselves . Chelas and Mr. Special have both been encouraging, helpful with suggestions, and both are soothing persons to explain things to and to have help me find my own high success rates.
I recommended their children's open crafting area to my Sister in Law, who Homeschools, and she said that this would be the perfect place for her to bring her kids for the art portion of her lessons. In fact, every time I stop by, there are assorted happy children around the table getting involved in some creative and crafty ventures.
Love, love, love Art of Recycle! My Grandchildren go there whenever they visit and love it. The staff is so friendly and helpful! We have been restoring a 1936 home in Ephrata and always find what we need, if we can't find it...the staff will search their inventory for what we need. Bravo to Art of Recycle for providing this place for children to go and express their creavitiy in a safe, friendly environment and for saving many treasures from the trash!
My son got married in June and wanted a "wish in a bottle" table at the wedding due to the fact that it was a beach wedding theme. We were able to find so much more than we needed so reasonably priced at Art of Recycle that we created an entire table of "Wish in a Bottle" with basket, shells, an old sailor, old bottles and candles with melted wax, even a ship. What a wonderful place. It inspires the child in each of us to come out and play.
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I love the Art of Recycle and visit often. Everyone I have brought with me to visit gets encouraged to get there creative juices going and always find something they have to take home. I am looking forward to moving across the street in Oct. and helping out with the sewing and creating. Fantastic place for KIDS of all ages to be creative. See you there.
Art of Recycle is one of the most magical places there is. My son and I have been going there for 2 years and love it. It is an awesome place to volunteer and be. Being at Art of Recycle is therapy to me and being apart of it's operation and success makes my heart smile. There are so many people that benefit from Art of Recycle being in business. My son is 5 years old and loves making finger puppets, playing in the puppet theater and also volunteers. He has also met and plays with some the other kids that frequent Art of Recycle. We have made some great friends from being at Art of Recycle including Chelas, Mr. Nobody Special, Phoenix and many more. Thank you for all you do for our community and may Art of Recycle flourish!
We love Art of Recycle. My daughters ( ages 10 &10) and I can spend hours making fun projects at Ephrata's Art of Recycle. We have become a more "crafty" family. It is a great way to spend time with my girls, away from electronics. Miss Chelas and Mr. Nobody Special are so friendly!
I have been a customer at the store and also have hired Chelas and Mr Nobody Special twice for private parties. They are the most caring and kind indiduals. And are so great and patient with children. I have referred them to others and everybody who has had them for parties raves about how great they are. The store is a awesome place to find all kinds of unique treasures for all your crafty needs. I am so glad I have AOR in my town and that Chelas and Mr Nobody are here too. They are super talented and very kind. Keep up the great work guys.
