Freecycle Fun

I love Freecycle.org, which has an Olney group. 

Do you ever find yourself cleaning out items (or unwanted gifts) in perfectly good (sometimes new-and-still-in-the-package) condition? Great for giving away unneeded items that can be used by others, Freecycle.org is convenient to use: just post any item to give away as an “Offer”, communicate directly with interested takers, and then leave it out on the front porch for pick-up. If you need an item, simply post “Wanted” and a description of your desired item.

While clearing out my parents’ home as they downsized to a smaller house, I found a butterfly taxidermy display.

I posted it on Freecycle.org and a science teacher claimed it; I was happy that the butterfly display (labelled with scientific names) was going to hang in a biology classroom instead of be hidden away in my parents’ closet.

Freecyclers can give away and request almost anything, like games, books, furniture, appliances, Safeway stamps, etc. I often see one Freecycler who just moved “Offer” boxes and bubble wrap and another Freecycler about to move “Want” boxes and bubble wrap. Offers of objects like a Walkman and VHS tapes of 80’s movies make me feel nostalgic.

Some offered items are quite popular and snapped up quickly. When I didn’t snag the “Offer” of Seinfeld DVDs or SNL’s 25th Anniversary DVD, I actually felt sad – over losing out on these free items! 

My latest “Offer” – a heart-shaped bowl – almost become "bowel" because of a typo. I wonder who would have wanted a heart-shaped bowel?