Better Than A Garage Sale - Freecycle
Today I made my first participation in the Freecycle program in my area and I am so glad that I did. I signed up a while ago with my local Freecycle program. I receive daily e-mails of items that people in my area would like to get rid of.Â
What is Freecycle?
The Freecycle Network was started in May 2003 to promote waste reduction in Tucson’s downtown and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. The Network provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to “recycle” unwanted items. One person’s trash can truly be another’s treasure!
 How does it work?
When you want to find a new home for something — whether it’s a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door — you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of the local Freecycle group.
Or, maybe you’re looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member’s offer, and you just might get it. After that, it’s up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.
Our main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.
Yesterday, an email from my local Freecycle was for a large bag of children’s clothing in the particular size that I am needing. I emailed the person who made the offer and indicated that I would love to take the clothing, and let her know when I could pick them up. She responded quickly and told me that she would place them in a bag on her doorstep during the time that I said I could pick them up. She included the directions to her home.
This morning I went and picked up the bag of clothing. She was right, it was a large plastic trash bag full of the clothing in the sizes she had said. These are sizes that my child can wear for the next 2 years and for all seasons including warm up jackets with matching pants, jeans, long sleeve shirts, sweaters, shorts, even pajamas! They are top brands too, like GAP, The Children’s Place, and McKids, and are all in good to excellent condition. I was very pleased with this bag of clothing and it was almost like finding treasure!
