It’s easy being green
Every year, Earth Day is celebrated on April 22. San Antonio’s Spare Parts, a non-profit organization that recycles arts and craft supplies, celebrates the Earth and its inhabitants’ creativity all year long.
Thanks to the vision of Mary Elizabeth Cantú and her tireless board of directors, Spare Parts was founded in 2011 to help arts educators obtain the resources they need for their students. Sadly, Cantú died of a heart attack in February 2025 at the age of 45, but her legacy lives on, thanks to the many volunteers who keep her vision alive.
Arts and craft thrift shop
Spare Parts Center for Creative Reuse, located at 13491 Wetmore Road, not far from the Thousand Oaks intersection, is also open to the general public.
For those who are into arts and crafts, this will be the closest you get to heaven on Earth! Yarn. Fabric. Paint. Jewelry and beads. Books. Containers. Educational materials. Paper crafts. Screen printing materials. Scrapbook supplies. Patterns and more, all at affordable prices!
Learn from the masters
Spare Parts also offers workshops to get your creative juices flowing. Upcoming workshops include bookbinding, Artist Trading Cards, photo embroidery, quilling, and wood photo transfers. Workshops range in price from $15 to $45 per person. Seating is limited.
For a one-time donation of $30, you will become a member of the VIP Loyalty Program and save 10%-30% on every purchase you make from now on. What a deal!
Lasting impact
In 2024, Spare Parts kept 31,522 pounds of arts and craft materials out of San Antonio’s landfill. Since the Center opened in 2020, more than 100,000 pounds have been diverted. Steadfast volunteers contributed close to 3,000 hours of their time to make the magic happen in 2024. Teachers who are registered with Spare Parts receive additional savings. Offsite art pantries located at 10 spots around town provide FREE arts and craft supplies, thanks to generous donations.
Plan your visit
Spare Parts is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Please follow them on Facebook and/or Instagram to learn about workshops and special sales, like the upcoming MEGA SALE on Sunday, June 8, from noon to 5 p.m. at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels, adjacent to the San Antonio Botanical Garden. You may donate your unneeded arts and craft supplies on Saturday, June 7, at the same location. Please register and select a time to drop off your donation.
Pablo Picasso once said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Thanks to Spare Parts, its volunteers and donors for helping us clean our souls!
Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been her home ever since. Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to curate a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!