Join the cycle at The Nest Community
As Roz Holt and her family established their creative roots, a simple realisation took hold: making things together held power far beyond the finished product. What began in 2010 as a personal blog called For the Love of Making and a small weekend craft group for young girls soon blossomed into something much larger.
Today, that grassroots beginning has grown into The Nest Community, a registered charity and award-winning social enterprise hub in Brendale built around a simple mission: adding value to what we already have and fostering true human connection.
National Recycling Week runs from 9th to 15th November, with the 2026 theme encouraging Australians to 'Join the Cycle'. The Nest community stands out not just as an environmental leader in textile recovery, but as a vibrant neighbourhood sanctuary. Rather than treating sustainability as an industrial process or a matter of deprivation, Roz believes real change starts by shifting how we view consumption.
"We need to show people the value of what they already have."
Roz says, “Home economics and repair should be part of every waste strategy. Why can't we treat everything in our wardrobe as an heirloom? If we start to perceive every piece of clothing as an heirloom, then that's going to cut back how much we consume."
Since 2014, The Nest has welcomed nearly ten semi-trailer loads of donated materials, recirculating over 320 kilometres of fabric, a distance equivalent to driving from Brisbane to Bundaberg. Yet for Roz, the true heart of the organisation happens away from the scales.
Operating on what she calls a circular-giving model, the space brings together volunteers, makers, and local families who find genuine joy in sorting, creating, and passing on practical skills.
"We've managed to create a happy place out of rubbish," Roz smiles.
The process is deeply cathartic. Many donations arrive from women whose craft rooms have overflowed, or from families navigating deceased estates. Entrusting a loved one’s unfinished projects or treasured textile collection to volunteers who understand their worth offers immense comfort, knowing those materials will be cherished rather than sent to landfill.
From youth mentoring through The Exchange Project to the bustling haberdashery, The Nest offers a safe harbour from modern life. For many locals, stepping through the doors means leaving heavy things outside.
Through their new Roll For Good initiative, businesses can bring teams in for workplace volunteering that links corporate sustainability goals with local impact. Offering express and half-day packages, the program connects workplace culture with the circular economy while supporting real community outcomes.
Whether you have unused fabric to pass along or want to learn a traditional skill, The Nest proves that true sustainability begins when we care for both our resources and each other.
How to Help The Nest Community:
Donate quality textiles & haberdashery: Clear out unused fabric, yarn, sewing notions, patterns, and vintage craft tools to give them a second life.
Volunteer your skills or book a corporate day: Join their dedicated community of women volunteers to sort donations, share practical knowledge, and help run daily operations, or bring your workplace team in for their newly launched Roll for Good corporate volunteering program.
Shop & support the social enterprise: Visit the Brendale haberdashery at The Sheds to purchase pre-loved materials, fund community workshops, and support resource access for local schools.
This article was brought to you by our Community Correspondent, Stacey MacMillan-White.
How to Help is a social enterprise founded on the simple belief that everyone has the capacity to give. Our platform connects those who want to help with the local organisations and people who need help, working together to make the world a better place.
Whether you want to volunteer your time, donate goods, or support a local cause, you can find the right fit for you.
Discover local opportunities: To see how you can volunteer or shop for good to support The Nest Community right here in our community, visit their profile on How to Help.
To explore other local organisations and discover more ways to make a difference in Moreton Bay, visit the directory at here.