Lower Overhead. Give & Get Items at Freecycle. ThanksGiving Eh?
Get or give items you need for work, home or your cause via freecycle. In so doing you save money in a bad economy and...[more]
Get or give items you need for work, home or your cause via freecycle. In so doing you save money in a bad economy and cultivate closer, more diverse ties in your community. Now that's a source of thanks - giving. ~ ~ ~ Simply post what you want or have on this online community network started waaaaay back in 2004 and moderated deftly (to keep everyone polite and honest) by N. who is away for a few days on a family emergency. Play nice she advised. Sign up for the Marin chapter of this international volunteer-based, crowdsourced freecycle chapter. Every day get emails of what is available for your free pick up or what is wanted by someone. Whoever responds first gets the posted item, offered for free. Arrangements are made via email. When "taken" that news is shared online too. Keeps the community efficient. Like google groups, Yahoo groups' system enables people to keep their email and phone private until they choose to share information for picking up items.
Not surprisingly, the Marin community has grown recently to 3,331 members as of today - and moved to a Yahoo group. Plus you can see other recycling and community resources listed here.
So far I got bark ground cover for my backyard from a couple in San Anselmo, a soaker hose from a single mother in Mill Valley, a 10 cup coffee maker (using it this Thanksgiving) from a newly-wed boomer couple (combining their households) here in Sausalito. I have given away an extra ladder, floor lamp, and berber area rug. Knowing that things I do not need are going directly to someone who can use them makes me feel happy and closer to my community. Finding something I can use yet would prefer to buy in this uncertain economy makes me so grateful to the thoughtful people I've met who gave things to me - in the condition they promised in their description.
Over at Moving From Me to We I wrote about others sites where we can swap items or otherwise help each other through a bad economy.
Now there are more than 6 million people across the world who belong to a freecycle chapter. This free service builds a sense of connection on our community where many may look rich yet all have the innate desire to belong and to be good for each other. Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you biznik members for spreading fast - and now reaching out to us here in the S.F. Bay Area. [less]


