Nelson Molina, a sanitation worker from East Harlem, has transformed his childhood lessons on resourcefulness into a remarkable community project. Growing up in El Barrio, Molina was instilled with values of reuse and repair by his mother, who emphasized the importance of not wasting anything. This upbringing inspired him to collect and restore discarded items, a practice that began with salvaging stamps from letters sent by his father, a Marine.

Molina's passion for finding value in the overlooked led him to create \"Treasures in the Trash,\" a unique museum showcasing a staggering 45,000 items he has rescued from the streets of his neighborhood. His eclectic collection includes everything from guitars to teapots, reflecting both his personal history and the rich tapestry of East Harlem's community.

Through this initiative, Molina not only highlights the potential of discarded objects but also fosters a sense of pride and creativity within his community, encouraging others to see the beauty in what is often deemed worthless. His work serves as a testament to the power of recycling and the importance of valuing every item, no matter how small.