News and Public Media for North Central Florida

In Photos: 'Green Santa' Makes Stop At Gainesville's Repurpose Project

Friends and families gathered around an array of mismatched chairs and tables, sat back and enjoyed food and drinks provided by local restaurants and breweries for the Repurpose Project's Winter Festival on Saturday.

Every year, the Repurpose Project hosts the event, which provides a time and space for local artisans to sell their handmade and recycled goods.

At this year's festival, attendees were greeted by Green Sustainable Santa (played by the Repurpose Project's Mike Myers), who read them books donated by the community and posed for photos.

As the sun sat, visitors were welcomed by the sounds of jazz, folk and bluegrass by local musicians.

The Repurpose Project, which some might say looks like a junk yard from the outside, is actually a quirky little store on Northeast 23rd Avenue.

Co-founded by Myers and Sarah Goff in 2011, the Repurpose Project is a non-profit community-based thrift store that focuses on recycling and salvaging. Unlike other thrift stores, it accepts any and all types of recycled items, from trinkets to lumber and everything in between.

 

Dana Myers and Andrew Cook sing folk tunes written by Cook’s great-uncle Mosie. (Coby Sanchez/WUFT News)

 

Repurpose Project co-founder Mike Myers, who portrayed Green Sustainable Santa, walks toward the photo area to pose with children. (Coby Sanchez/WUFT News)

 

Myers reads stories to children about the importance of recycling and sustainability. (Coby Sanchez/WUFT News)

 

Tommy Baker (left) and Kylah Rail (center) sell pizza and beer donated by Satchel’s Pizza and Swamp Head Brewery. (Coby Sanchez/WUFT News)

 

Baker (left) and Rail (center), both long-time employees at Repurpose Project, share laughs with festival-goers as they serve food and drinks. (Coby Sanchez/WUFT News)

 

 

 

Bobby Foxx is a local artist who makes jewelry out of recycled copper pipe. (Coby Sanchez/WUFT News)

 

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email