History of Lancaster Creative Reuse
We include the details on hours and square footage because we know from experience that it’s very useful to those working to start a creative reuse center in their own community!
Fall 2009
Co-founders Jeannie Zeller and Andrea Stoner Leaman meet after both connecting with Marty at Building Character about the idea of starting a creative reuse center in Lancaster. Andrea and Jeannie had learned of the concept separately and were both determined one should exist in Lancaster. Together they co-founded Lancaster Creative Reuse.
June 2010
After lots of research and meetings with Lancaster area organization and business leaders, signed Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement with the Keystone Art & Culture Center, which allowed LCR to start as a project under the 501(c)3 non-profit umbrella of Keystone Arts.
July 2010
Moved into an 850 sq foot room in the basement of the former Stahr Armory. The Theater of the Seventh Sister was working to start an arts and community center in the Stahr Center and LCR was one of the first ventures.
August 2010
The LCR store opened to the public on First Friday August 6, 2010. Our hours were Mondays 10-6, Saturdays 9-Noon & First Fridays 5-9. Jeannie, Andrea and Daria Rohrer volunteered to run the store.
December 2010
Expanded hours to Mondays 10-6, Thurs 10-2, Sat 9-Noon & First Fridays 5-9. Val and Ann volunteered to run Thursdays. Added the Open Craft Table.
March 2012
Expanded into the room next to us in the Stahr Center, for a total of 1,700 square feet of space.
Expanded hours to Mondays 10-6, Thurs 10-2, Fri 10-2 and Sat 9-Noon. Leslie volunteered to run Fridays.
October 2012
Lost our space when the Stahr Center was closed to the public. Moved to our current location at 1865 Lincoln Hwy E., just east of Lancaster and re-opened. This space is 2,400 sq feet.
May 2014
LCR became its own 501(c)3 nonprofit with a board of directors. (Nonprofit status was applied for in June and granted in October, retroactive to the May 2 date that LCR incorporated as a nonprofit in PA).
November 2014
Added space in the building behind us at 12 Greenfield Rd., which we called the Annex.
April 2015
Extended Saturday hours to 10-5. Hours now Mondays 10-6, Thurs 10-2, Fri 10-2, Sat 10-5 and First Fri evening of each month from 5-9.
August 2015
LCR celebrates its 5 year anniversary!! This has been an incredible journey from idea to thriving organization that serves over 9,000 people a year, through an expansion and a move, from all volunteer to three part-time staff. Thank you Lancaster, and thank you to the wonderful people who have given of their time and talents to make this happen: Laurie, Nancy, Tracy, Steph, Melissa, Karen, Zahira, Jill, Dori, Becky, Sue, Betty, Jane, Marilyn, Cathy, Jenny, Jenna, Ashley, Michael, Parker, Abby, Jennifer, Kate, Dawn, the Board, Excentia staff and clients and many more.
October 2017
LCR expands its hours to 6 days a week. Hours now Monday 10-2, Tuesday 10-2, Wednesday 10-2,
Thursday 10-6, Friday 10-2, Saturday 10-4.
December 2018
LCR expands its educational and outreach programming - visiting schools, corporations, and community events for 2019!
March 2019
LCR invests in it's first annual financial review - allowing for next level transparency as a growing grass roots nonprofit charitable organization. This investment will also allow LCR to seek and apply for grant money available to further our mission and better our community.
September 2019
LCR sponsors Kid's Art in the Park, benefiting the Long's Park Amphitheater Foundation and the FREE Summer Music Series. This event was held central to the Long's Park Fine Art Festival over Labor Day weekend.
November 2019
LCR participates in it's first major fundraising event - Lancaster's ExtraGive Day , sponsored by the Lancaster County Community Foundation as well as the High Foundation, Rodgers&Associates. LCRs original goal was $2,000 - and this amount was exceeded by 4pm on the day of online giving to nonprofits. LCR raised over$3,200 from 59 donors!!! This money will be used to begin expansion of the reuse center's size, services, and inventory!
March 2020
Keeping with our 2019 goal, the reuse center expanded by an additional 1,000 sq feet - allowing for more thrift store space, volunteer and job training space, a new classroom, and a larger craft table area! We were 2 weeks into unveiling our new renovations, when our focus quickly changed to supporting the communities needs for masks, mask making materials, and various other materials in response tot he Covid19 pandemic.
Fall 2009
Co-founders Jeannie Zeller and Andrea Stoner Leaman meet after both connecting with Marty at Building Character about the idea of starting a creative reuse center in Lancaster. Andrea and Jeannie had learned of the concept separately and were both determined one should exist in Lancaster. Together they co-founded Lancaster Creative Reuse.
June 2010
After lots of research and meetings with Lancaster area organization and business leaders, signed Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement with the Keystone Art & Culture Center, which allowed LCR to start as a project under the 501(c)3 non-profit umbrella of Keystone Arts.
July 2010
Moved into an 850 sq foot room in the basement of the former Stahr Armory. The Theater of the Seventh Sister was working to start an arts and community center in the Stahr Center and LCR was one of the first ventures.
August 2010
The LCR store opened to the public on First Friday August 6, 2010. Our hours were Mondays 10-6, Saturdays 9-Noon & First Fridays 5-9. Jeannie, Andrea and Daria Rohrer volunteered to run the store.
December 2010
Expanded hours to Mondays 10-6, Thurs 10-2, Sat 9-Noon & First Fridays 5-9. Val and Ann volunteered to run Thursdays. Added the Open Craft Table.
March 2012
Expanded into the room next to us in the Stahr Center, for a total of 1,700 square feet of space.
Expanded hours to Mondays 10-6, Thurs 10-2, Fri 10-2 and Sat 9-Noon. Leslie volunteered to run Fridays.
October 2012
Lost our space when the Stahr Center was closed to the public. Moved to our current location at 1865 Lincoln Hwy E., just east of Lancaster and re-opened. This space is 2,400 sq feet.
May 2014
LCR became its own 501(c)3 nonprofit with a board of directors. (Nonprofit status was applied for in June and granted in October, retroactive to the May 2 date that LCR incorporated as a nonprofit in PA).
November 2014
Added space in the building behind us at 12 Greenfield Rd., which we called the Annex.
April 2015
Extended Saturday hours to 10-5. Hours now Mondays 10-6, Thurs 10-2, Fri 10-2, Sat 10-5 and First Fri evening of each month from 5-9.
August 2015
LCR celebrates its 5 year anniversary!! This has been an incredible journey from idea to thriving organization that serves over 9,000 people a year, through an expansion and a move, from all volunteer to three part-time staff. Thank you Lancaster, and thank you to the wonderful people who have given of their time and talents to make this happen: Laurie, Nancy, Tracy, Steph, Melissa, Karen, Zahira, Jill, Dori, Becky, Sue, Betty, Jane, Marilyn, Cathy, Jenny, Jenna, Ashley, Michael, Parker, Abby, Jennifer, Kate, Dawn, the Board, Excentia staff and clients and many more.
October 2017
LCR expands its hours to 6 days a week. Hours now Monday 10-2, Tuesday 10-2, Wednesday 10-2,
Thursday 10-6, Friday 10-2, Saturday 10-4.
December 2018
LCR expands its educational and outreach programming - visiting schools, corporations, and community events for 2019!
March 2019
LCR invests in it's first annual financial review - allowing for next level transparency as a growing grass roots nonprofit charitable organization. This investment will also allow LCR to seek and apply for grant money available to further our mission and better our community.
September 2019
LCR sponsors Kid's Art in the Park, benefiting the Long's Park Amphitheater Foundation and the FREE Summer Music Series. This event was held central to the Long's Park Fine Art Festival over Labor Day weekend.
November 2019
LCR participates in it's first major fundraising event - Lancaster's ExtraGive Day , sponsored by the Lancaster County Community Foundation as well as the High Foundation, Rodgers&Associates. LCRs original goal was $2,000 - and this amount was exceeded by 4pm on the day of online giving to nonprofits. LCR raised over$3,200 from 59 donors!!! This money will be used to begin expansion of the reuse center's size, services, and inventory!
March 2020
Keeping with our 2019 goal, the reuse center expanded by an additional 1,000 sq feet - allowing for more thrift store space, volunteer and job training space, a new classroom, and a larger craft table area! We were 2 weeks into unveiling our new renovations, when our focus quickly changed to supporting the communities needs for masks, mask making materials, and various other materials in response tot he Covid19 pandemic.
