Turning trash into purpose: Juda House resident finds healing and meaning through recycled creations
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Michael Saulsbury isn’t a typical resident at Juda House. He has a unique passion: creating things using only recycled materials.
Saulsbury said he enjoys taking items most people would throw away and turning them into something useful or visually appealing.
"For me, it's bringing something back out that you know is in there. It just calls to me and I see it in my head. Sometimes I don’t know what exactly it's going to be and it doesn’t turn out the way I see it, but I use what I have to make it,” Saulsbury said.
Saulsbury believes every person has value. In his view, no one is born the way they eventually act in society.
He said there’s always a story behind someone’s life that shapes who they become.
For him, working on these projects is also a way to cope. He pours his heart and soul into each piece he creates.
"It depends because sometimes I also have to stop since I don’t have what I need, and then I go out looking and usually the next day it just comes to me because it will be in the trash,” Saulsbury said.
One of the main reasons he enjoys creating is that it keeps him busy throughout the day.
Saulsbury said he used to have a job, but now he focuses on staying active through creativity and doing something he truly enjoys.
"Nobody is trash, you know, nobody. You might not be perfect, but you are not trash and it's also funny how when you change trash into something appealing, people look at it differently,” Saulsbury said.
Juda House Care Coordinator Chasity McCourt said Saulsbury's room has always amazed her because of the number of things he’s created over the years.
According to McCourt, his work sends a powerful message about repurposing—something they encourage among all residents.
"We are trying to help people find their lives again, so Michael’s creation to me says everything has purpose, even trash,” McCourt said.
She also acknowledged how the homeless population often carries a negative reputation, with many people assuming individuals are simply addicts or struggling with mental health issues.
McCourt believes those assumptions overlook the bigger picture.
"These guys are individuals. They are people that have backgrounds and families and things they used to do and hobbies and this doesn’t have to be their end,” said McCourt.
She added how Saulsbury uses all kinds of discarded items—old cabinets, lamps and broken toys—to build something new.
Looking at Saulsbury's creations, McCourt said it’s clear his work reflects a deeper message: every person and every object can still have a purpose.
