Duct Tape Items Help Animals

Alejandra Reyes of Riverside is no stranger to Market Night in Redlands. For almost half a year now, she has been trying to come every week to set up a booth to showcase an interesting talent of hers. She creates items made entirely and completely out of duct tape. These items, ranging from small wallets to clutch purses to character figurines, are durable and unique. Yet even more unique are the humility of her cause and the sheer generosity of her purpose. Reyes is not selling for her profit but instead donates all proceeds to the Yucaipa Animal Placement Society (YAPS). “I love what they do; I love that they are no-kill,” she said of YAPS, which is a non-profit animal shelter that strives to prevent the euthanasia of animals by, as their mission statement explains, “providing them a temporary safe haven until a permanent loving home can be found.” They have already saved 275 animals from death this year. She explained that she had begun to volunteer there to help animals some time ago, but has since been unable to go, yet still wanted to help somehow. She and a friend started making duct tape items and donating the proceeds as a way still to help. Having learned to make these duct-tape items mostly by self-teaching, Reyes takes about an hour on average to make items like her wallets, and as long as 27 hours for items as complex as her big figurine of Bowser from Super Mario Brothers. It can get time-consuming, so she is thankful to those who purchase to support, especially some of her regulars who have bought items over and over. “I try to make it to the Redlands Market Night every week, but sometimes our return on the next week will depend on if we do well on the last week,” she explains. Success of proceeds dictates if duct tape rolls can be purchased to make items for the next Market Night. Grinning, she reminds her customers, “I also do custom orders!” The next time you visit Market Night in Redlands, remember to keep an eye out for Alejandra Reyes’ booth on the corner of Fifth and State, where she is hard at work making her beautiful duct-tape creations and busy helping to save the lives of animals.