Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra O’Dell.
Hi Sandra, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The organization, officially The Resource Recovery Project, Inc., operating under the dba of “Leftovers, Etc.” was founded by a friend who eventually dropped out as growth increased. I assumed responsibility for the organization in 1997 at the direction of a government official who took a chance on our vision and began funding our not-for-profit. Over the years, we have moved several times; we lived in St. Charles County until 2014, moved to St. Louis, and have been in several locations since that move. Each move resulted from changing dynamics that had nothing to do with our mission or our success but were situations outside of our control.
We began by posting on social media what we were about and what we wanted to accomplish and asking for donations of household and industrial discards to be used by area educators in their classrooms (a means for unusual material aimed to spark creative learning in every situation that presented such an opportunity).
Since the inception of our mission, our “donation” base has increased to about 65,000 area residents/businesses who donate to our cause every year; our impact reached 200,000-250,000 children a year before COVID. COVID set us back a great deal, but we survived and are moving forward again. Our new location at Chesterfield Mall is temporary; we are seeking a building donation of approximately 20,000-25,000 sq ft., centrally located, to secure this much-needed service for years.
Our services and central purpose of providing unusual material for creative learning have grown. We provide workshops for Girl Scouts/Cub Scouts by completing badge requirements using the resources we have at our disposal. We also do birthday parties, DIY workshops, and educational workshops to assist other organizations in expanding the services they provide to the community by introducing them to how they can use items found in their homes for educational purposes. We are constantly being contacted by various organizations that want to learn how to teach children to get creative with numerous items found in their homes. Our latest endeavor is collecting new school supplies to be included in backpacks given to children of the Veterans living in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The Kaufman Fund provides funding for this effort and is a popular activity we are pursuing.
There was a time when we were funded by many companies and organizations throughout the metropolitan area, but that support has slowly dried up. We are, however, supported by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and this support has been consistent for the past 25 years. Funding is an issue we must deal with continually. All of the services/products we provide are meant to be provided at a minimal cost (teachers must spend enough of their own money to provide resources for their students), and we want our products to be not only innovative but very, very inexpensive. Our ultimate goal is to provide all our resources to anyone who works with children in a learning capacity to receive their supplies from us FREE OF CHARGE! We hope to get there soon. Having our own building/location will help us reach that goal quickly.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Funding has always been a struggle. Securing a location at a cost we can afford has been another obstacle. The path forward has become increasingly harder to accomplish as our funding decreased. We are sure some individuals would be willing to help monetarily, but we haven’t been able to locate them yet. The wonderful people who donate household goods to us are always leaving small amounts of monetary support because they believe so strongly in our mission and what we are trying to accomplish; however, while greatly appreciated, this support does not reach the level we need to secure the future of this organization for many decades to come. That doesn’t mean we aren’t still trying continuously.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a retiree of The Boeing Company (formerly McDonnell Douglas Corporation – McDonnell Aircraft Company), where I spent 37 years of my life as an Executive Assistant to many top officials in the company. I watched the big guns negotiate, facilitate, react, etc., and have applied those faculties to my support of this organization.
I’m also the daughter of a man who owned his own business, where I learned all the ins and outs of business protocol and the inner workings of a successful small business. Because of the experience I received working in that field on an as-needed basis, I have accumulated knowledge that has benefited the growth of the organization I now spearhead. I am a very detailed, organized individual who always finds an unusual, different path to achieve goals. While working at McDonnell Douglas Corporation, I was the sole Administrative Assistant to all committees formed to facilitate a smooth visit by many dignitaries. I’ve interfaced personally with President Kennedy, President Nixon, Dick Cheney. all of the first astronauts who visited the company, and many more.
As for the work I do now – it all focuses on the success of this organization. I’ve spearheaded this organization through events, casualties, incredible moments, etc., for the past 30 years. I’ve learned how to interact with individuals daily (which sometimes means being stern with people and other times knowing when to remain silent). This aspect has been a long lesson in protocol, to which I have slowly adjusted.
The part I most love about what I do now is watching children walk into our facility and see their eyes light up. They tell Mom and Dad, “Oh, I want this and this and this and that cause I want to make this!” I listen to many parents accommodate those requests, and I’ve heard many parents say, “Oh, you don’t need that item,” which immediately prompts a response from me to “Please let your child be creative”! 99% of the time, the parents understand what I am promoting, and everything works out great! I love the interaction with anyone and everyone who walks through our front door.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Yes – help us find a secure location for this organization. I’m reaching the age where I can leave this earth at any time, and the only thing I want to accomplish (business-wise) before my departure is to have this organization secure for decades to come.
Pricing:
- Pricing for educators is half price
- Pricing for all resources is based on how full one fills a grocery bag
- Pricing for activities is competitive
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leftoversetc.com
- Facebook: Leftovers, Etc.
