SALVAGING HIS LIVING

They say that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. In Mitch Pennell’s case, he’s getting treasure from the 3 million or so residents of Chicago.

“What I am is a junk collector, a glorified dumpster diver,” Pennell said recently in a telephone interview from Chicago.

Actually, the former Pittsburg resident and 1982 Pittsburg High School graduate is the founder and creative director of  Chicago Lost and Found.

The not-for-profit organization rescues discarded items from dumpsters, alleys and collection drives, then repurposes it into functional home furnishings, decorations, even art. These items are sold through the organization’s private studio and through exclusive Chicago retail locations.

“Where most people see trash, I see possibility and beauty,” Pennell said.

The son of  longtime basketball coach Dewey Pennell and teacher Marinell Pennell, he has worked in the creative world for more than 20 years, including some time at Precious Moments in Carthage, Mo., and stints in floral design, residential interiors and home product development and design. In 2005 he was featured in “Wickedly Perfect,” a CBS competition with the winner receiving his or her own home styling TV show. Pennell was the runner-up, losing the top spot when celebrity chef Bobby Flay cast the deciding vote.

“There are people in Pittsburg who, to this day, refuse to watch Bobby Flay on TV,” Pennell said, laughing.

He himself saw no reason to waste time fretting over the show.

“The big lesson learned was that it was not my time,” he said. “I spent some time with myself to find what I wanted to do. I love to create, and to help people create. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and junk seemed to be the best thing I could come up with because there’s an endless free supply. I’m just appalled by what they throw away in Chicago.”

He’s also appalled by current economic conditions and budget cuts.

“It’s unbelievable that the arts are being cut so severely,” Pennell said.

“We have a bunch of leaders who think it’s a good idea to cut creative programs, physical education and athletics in the schools. As you get older, you know how important physical health is, and just look at the epidemic of childhood obesity.”

That’s why Chicago Lost and Found will help fund creative projects and classes. “We want to help any group that wants to be creative — schools, churches, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs,” he said.  “We want to create a safe environment for kids who are creative. There’s no time I feel more free than when I’m creating, and if I can create the same thing for one person, I’ll feel very successful.”

He’s getting some national attention now, through the help of close friend Paula Deen, Food Network star. They met while she was doing an appearance on “Oprah.” Pennell was invited to the studio that day by a friend who worked as a stylist for Harpo, Oprah Winfrey’s production company.

“Paula is everything you see on TV and more,” Pennell said. “She has always been adorable to us, and she’s sort of adopted me as part of her family. My mother said, ‘Don’t forget, I’m your real mom’.”

Deen is also a supporter of Chicago Lost and Found. “One thing we make is a Christmas tree skirt of old men’s silk ties,” Pennell said. “Paula has one and uses it in her home.”

He said that Chicago Lost and Found will be featured in the November issue of Deen’s magazine, and in May he taped a segment for her Food Network show “Best Dishes.”

“I’m not sure when that will air, but I think it’s safe to say it should be broadcast within the next six months,” Pennell said.

He hopes the attention will help Chicago Lost and Found grow and do more good.

”I think now more than ever we all need something to belong to and believe in,” Pennell said. “We must pull together in order to help ourselves and each other recover from these critical times.”

Anyone wishing to learn more about his organization may visit www.chicagolostandfound.com.