The WasteShed

This heat is gonna be the death of me O_O THANK GOD, the Wasteshed has AC! Cool down AND check out cool things! We got in a 3D printer and sewing machines! We also put out some new beads, pastels and fabric :) But heads up, we won’t be open tomorrow, July 4th. You are still welcome any other day we’re usually open!

Get some shopping done and meet us in the poolrooms to fight this heat

Introducing our summer Glass Case Gallery artist Sophies house .co !!

Sophia Pedro is a multimedia artist from the West Side of Chicago whose work blends community, memory, and storytelling. Her practice spans film, photography, and jewelry making, often in collaboration with local creatives and youth.
Through her creative umbrella, Sophie’s House, Sophia explores different mediums to honor personal and collective narratives.
Sophia’s art is grounded in care, culture, and the everyday beauty of her community.

Sophia gives old silverware another life by turning it into jewelry. Come see some of Sophias spoon rings this summer, June- August!

We like to say that The WasteShed's impact on our community is immeasurable, and it is! However, when teachers who get free stuff from our Free to Teachers section self-report 1) their school/organization and 2) the estimated value of their finds, we can get a glimpse!

Northwestern's 180 Degrees Consulting analyzed our 2025 data from some of our programs, including Free-To-Teachers, a continuously replenished shelf of educational supplies at each of our locations, and here are some trends they spotted:

-Last year, the larger program provided over $15,000 of creative supplies to over 500 educators from nearly 400 schools and community organizations, with an average of $30 in savings per teacher per visit.
-We were particularly interested in our Evanston location, as we will be leaving that site soon. The materials there reached schools in a 22 mile radius, going to 10% District 65 schools and 13% CPS schools.

Thank you to our staff and volunteers who work ceaselessly to keep these sections orderly and usable, and to Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Illinois Arts Council Agency, Evanston Arts Council, and our donors for supporting this and a host of other programs we do as part of our regular operations; not everyone sees the value in this work, but we hope you do 💜