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Redo, Renew, Repurpose event shares products and techniques

By Wendy Chappell-Dick
Manager of Bluffton Ten Thousand Villages

“What a nice dress you have on today.”

“Thank you! I got it at the Et Cetera Shop.”

This declaration is heard often in Bluffton, where purchases at our beloved thrift store are a thing of which to be proud, not embarrassed. This kind of cultural shift is essential as we make changes to protect our environment. Most changes aren’t easy. The triumph of the Et Cetera Shop is that shoppers come, not out of duty, but out of need, curiosity, and just plain fun. Bluffton, a little village in Northwest Ohio, has many people intent on reducing waste, recycling and, more importantly, by re-using what would have been trash. This wide-spread mindset is the result of a fifty-year community effort involving three stores and over one hundred volunteers. 

The Et Cetera Shop has been re-selling gently used books, household items, electronics, bedding and clothing ever since it was founded in a small storefront on Main Street. It has expanded to become three separate stores: a thrift shop, a used bookstore called Book Reviews, and a Fair Trade gift boutique called Ten Thousand Villages, which sells many recycled items from around the world. This expansion has been possible only with the enthusiastic support of churches and willing helpers along the way.

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It is important to acknowledge that humans have become addicted to trash — with severe environmental, social, economic and health consequences. One million plastic bottles are purchased every minute, worldwide, along with five trillion plastic bags.  The Earth is home to about 2.01 billion tons of municipal solid waste each year. According to the Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 produced by United Nations Environment Program, that figure is anticipated to reach 3.40 billion in about 30 years. The EPA reports that 16 million tons of that waste comes from textiles in the United States, which is even more than what comes from plastic! 

Not only is Et Cetera, Inc. keeping trash out of the landfill, it has raised $7,373,626 for charity over its organizational lifetime. 

The Et Cetera Shop accepts almost all donations, and they also recycle through other organizations who have specific use for used items. For example, prescriptive glasses go to Volunteer Optometric Services for Humanity. Animal rescues and homeless shelters receive blankets and sheets, while sleeping bags go to Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen. Area teachers are offered craft and sewing items, and a local florist gets the unsold vases.  Fabric, magazines, housewares, medical supplies, plastic and paper bags, and batteries are all donated to worthy causes. About 1,000 lbs. of metal gets recycled each month. Books make up a hefty amount of landfill waste, and in Bluffton there is a delightful way to re-use them through the inviting racks of literature at Book Reviews.

On December 14, a 50th anniversary celebration was held at the Bluffton Family YMCA called “Redo, Renew, Repurpose.” The goal of this event was to help the community discover the creative talents of local artisans who redo, renew and repurpose, extending the life of useful materials. Participants were inspired to imagine new uses for items that might otherwise be discarded. Many with displays had purchased their materials from the three stores that operate under the umbrella of Et Cetera Shop Inc.

Children in Bluffton Family YMCA’s afterschool program had been creating arts and crafts from materials found at the Et Cetera shop. Some of their projects were displayed during the event. 

Artists who participated included Lois Wetherill, Joyce Daniels, Curt Berfield, Julie Spitler, Becky Keske, Sally Materni, Carrie's Creative Creations, Tony Hites, Vicky Hauenstein, McComb Sew Club, Sew What Sisters, Beth Boehr and Ellery Byers.

Bluffton’s culture of thrift will continue to grow.