SCARCE
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Impacting thousands of people through environmental programs, resource rescue and reuse of supplies. The list goes on! We'd be happy to oblige.
School and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education (SCARCE) is an environmental education non-profit and resource center. We provides educational programs for anyone from age 2-92 and provide books and supplies to schools and non-profits. We work with schools, businesses, municipalities, park districts, libraries, scout groups, garden clubs, senior centers and more to provide engaging environmental education programs. Our goal is to inspire people to take action to care for our Earth's natural resources.
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Resource Conservation
SCARCE operates our Book Rescue fully funded and stocked by community and visitor donations. The goal is to reduce waste sent to landfills and help schools and non-profits get the supplies they need. School and non-profit employees can come to the book rescue and select books and supplies for their programs. Each box of books/supplies costs $10, which helps to keep our resource center open and available. If you come for a visit, please be sure to bring employment identification.
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Donate Items to SCARCE
To supply our Book Rescue we receive donations of unwanted resources from community members, schools, and businesses. Items include: books of any kind, writing utensils, notebooks & binders, rulers, staplers, paper clips, crafting supplies, and classroom decorations. If a teacher or non-profit office could use it, we'll gladly take it. We have a dedicated core of volunteers that help keep the Book Rescue stocked and ready for visitors. If you want to learn more, check out our website or stop by and ask for a quick tour.
09/29/2026
There are several events happening throughout the area this Saturday! Learn more about these different events at the links below.
Downers Grove Sanitary District Open House: https://www.scarce.org/event/downers-grove-sanitary-district-open-house/
Milton Township event information: https://www.scarce.org/event/milton-township-recycling-event/
Wood Dale event information: https://www.scarce.org/event/wood-dale-green-fair-recycling-event/
09/28/2026
Hey teachers! Do your students have a share table in the cafeteria for uneaten snacks? The same idea can be used in the teachers' lounge for school supplies! It would be a great way to reduce waste and save money at your school!
Teachers are getting rid of a lot of items in the beginning and end of every school year. If another teacher can use the items you are getting rid of, consider placing it on a share table before bringing it to SCARCE. As always, we're happy to accept donations of these items, but this way you can give your fellow teachers at your school first dibs on great items!
09/28/2026
Do you want to start composting at home? If so, learn about how you can do indoor composting (vermicomposting) or outdoor composting at our workshop at Bensenville Community Public Library!
DuPage County Stormwater Management, Cool DuPage
Learn more here: https://bensenville.librarycalendar.com/event/home-composting-5648
09/26/2026
Planning on having a relaxing weekend of hanging out and scrolling on your phone? If so, you can help SCARCE without even having to get up from your couch - and it's totally FREE!
If you start HundredX's 5x5x5 challenge today, you'll make a meaningful difference without opening your wallet! Each survey takes around 1 minute to complete, and you'll generate $1.60 to support SCARCE's environmental education and resource rescue efforts.
To get started, text "FEEDBACK" to 90412, scan the QR code, or go to this link: https://programs.hundredx.com/impactwithfeedback-b
09/25/2026
JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY! Gary United Methodist Church in Wheaton is livestreaming Bill McKibben's keynote talk from Faith in Place's 2026 Environment & Spirituality Summit.
The Summit's theme, Grounded Resistance, explores how we engage the world from a place of deep grounding, collective support and sustained resistance. McKibben is an author, educator and environmentalist who helped found 350.org, the first global grassroots climate campaign, and recently founded Third Act, an organizing movement for people over 60. Drawing on decades of organizing, writing and movement-building, he'll ground the Summit in the moral and spiritual stakes of the climate crisis and invite communities of faith to harness their collective power to confront fossil fuel reliance and advance climate justice.
Learn more and register here: https://aes-summit.org/register-2026
09/24/2026
Special E-Blast: Reused Materials for STEM/STEAM projects!
Looking for a project for your students? Are you creative and love sustainable crafting? If so, be sure to check out our area full of reusable materials that are perfect for your next project! Here's a list of some of the items we have here:
-Film Canisters
-Altoid tins
-Puzzle pieces
-Plastic spools
-Mesh
-Plastic Tubes
-Egg cartons
-Beans
-Bottlecaps
-Wood pieces
-CDs/Records
-Cardboard tubes (many different sizes)
-Cork
-Wheels
-And more!
There are so many projects that can be done with these items. See what your students can come up with or take some inspiration from us! Feel free to share more ideas in the comments below.
09/23/2026
It's E-blast Day! Check out some of the items that we are highlighting in the Reuse Center this week. Make sure to spread the word and SHARE our weekly e-blast with your friends! Reuse Center boxes are $10 each!
Our Reuse Center for school teachers and non-profits is open Monday - Friday -4:30pm and Saturdays -12:00pm.
Same hours as our SCARCE-LY Used store.
We are located at 800 S. Rohlwing Rd (Route 53) in Addison.
Learn more about our policies and who can get items here: https://www.scarce.org/reuse.../who-can-get-books-supplies/
Don't forget to check out our public store's E-blast, too!
https://www.facebook.com/scarcelyused
You can help SCARCE without spending a dime, and without leaving the couch!
If you do surveys through HundredX, you will support our efforts in environmental education, resource rescue, and helping teachers and schools! The surveys only take about 60 seconds and generate $1.60 each for SCARCE.
You can start by texting "FEEDBACK" to 90412 or go to this link: https://programs.hundredx.com/impactwithfeedback-b
09/22/2026
Do you have broken household items in need of fixing? Bring them to St. Timothy Lutheran’s Repair Fair! Volunteers will be on hand to fix items and favorite treasures, or evaluate any pieces needing more extensive repair.
The event is FREE, but there may be a small fee for some repairs (cash appreciated). Your items will be seen on a first-come, first-serve basis.
This event is being hosted by St. Timothy Green Team with the support of SCARCE. If you have questions, please call the church office at (630) 355-1330.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME! SEE YOU THERE!
https://www.scarce.org/event/st-timothy-repair-fair/
09/21/2026
SMOKE DETECTOR COLLECTION ALERT! Mark your calendars now!
Join SCARCE for the Downers Grove Fire Department's "Night at the Firehouse" event on Wednesday, October 7th, from 6:30pm-8:30pm.
We'll be there collecting smoke detectors for FREE! This is a great opportunity to dispose of them safely and sustainably.
Thank you to The Grove Foundation for supporting this community event.
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
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Address
800 S Rohlwing Road
Addison, IL
60101