North Austin News

Kelley Rytlewski, founder of Heartening, is making strides toward Austin's net-zero goals by distributing over 100,000 secondhand garments annually at no cost. Her initiative aims to reduce waste and strengthen community ties in Austin. "We have enough to go around — if we make it go around," Rytlewski states, emphasizing the importance of local sharing networks.

Heartening began as a small home-based operation and has expanded into a busy donation sorting room that redistributes thousands of items monthly. The organization focuses on community resilience and circular living while addressing issues like economic hardship and textile waste.

Rytlewski's motivation stemmed from frustration with wasteful practices in her community. She observed that many donations end up in large-chain thrift stores with questionable sustainability practices. "The vast majority of donated items across our county are given to a few large-chain thrift stores because it is often easier for folks to dump everything in one place," she notes.

After losing her job during the Twitter tornado two years ago, Rytlewski started Heartening to responsibly rehome unwanted items locally. Her belief is that sustainable living involves knowing your community and sharing resources effectively.

Heartening's mission involves rescuing items for reuse within the local community, operating efficiently through data collaboration and volunteers. Despite operating on a shoestring budget under $75,000 annually, Heartening has grown significantly, now giving away over 10,000 items each month.

Rytlewski describes the most rewarding aspect as seeing the concept take root and expand rapidly. In 2024 alone, they moved into a larger space capable of handling more donations. The organization plans to distribute 1,000 items daily by 2025.

Despite these achievements, challenges such as physical exhaustion and limited resources persist. Recently awarded a Food and Climate Equity Grant under Keep Austin Neighborly's fiscal sponsorship, Heartening plans to use this funding to continue supporting those in need throughout Austin.

Rytlewski advises others: "Buy less, reuse more." She encourages volunteering at Heartening to understand consumerism's impact firsthand. This holiday season, she suggests supporting Austin’s zero-waste goal by gifting secondhand or local experiences.