Sometime last month, I received an email regarding a FREECYCLE™ sponsored FreeMeet. This event was described as a
. . . chance to unload unwanted, but usable items, take home things you can put to good use and meet other folks from the Freecycle community. Anything leftover at the end of the event will be donated to local charities or recycled to the extent possible. As the name suggests, the Freecycle™ FreeMeet is FREE and open to the public!The FreeMeet was sponsored by a local YMCA, Freecycle™ New York City and the Office of Recycling Outreach and Education (OROE).You don't need to bring anything to take anything (though a tote bag might help). Please bring portable items only and leave furniture and other heavy stuff at home (log on to www.Freecycle.org to find people who can pick these items up from you).
Well! My eyes fairly danced at the thought of such a DeKluttering Extravaganza! This would be an opportunity to get rid of an assorted collection of items in one fell swoop, sans some of the difficulties associated with the typical Freecycle™ exchange or other swap strategies that I have previously discussed (see Join a Freecycle™ Group! or Throwing Away at Throwplace.com® for the particulars).
However, my glee was short-lived. Unfortunately, I had another activity scheduled later that same day so I wasn't sure I would be able to attend the FreeMeet and then get home in time to get ready for my other event. Never the less I passed the information on to a friend who is also trimming his klutter. He said he would probably go and graciously offered to take my stuff along, so it worked out.
Gather
I had already identified a variety of things that I planned to part with and had gathered them together in a shopping bag, so all was in readiness. By way of inspiration for my fellow hoarders out there, here's a list of the accumulated objects that I hoped would find happy new homes:
- Snowflake candles (3)
- Christmas candle
- Apple candles
- Liz Claiborne purse
- Daffodil bookmark
- Scooby Doo bookmark
- Pair of patent leather red thongs
- Ballerina finger puppet
- Personal organizers (paper based - 2)
- Cloud address book
- Ice scream scoop
- Fanny pack
- Coaster
- Washington DC marble/pewter paperweight
- Stationery set
- Kiddy kalculator - (2)
- Samsonite garment bags (2)
- Wallet
- Camera (non-digital)
- Cosmetic bag and mirror set
- Plastic lei
- Assorted paperbacks (9)
Assorted Paperbacks
- Connecticut - Off the Beaten Path: A Guide to a Unique Place
- Possessing the Secret of Joy - Alice Walker
- If Beale Street Could Talk - James Baldwin
- The M.D. - Thomas M. Disch
- The Dark Tower II: The Gunslinger - Stephen King
- With a Tangled Skein - Piers Anthony
- Native Tongue II: The Judas Rose - Suzette Haden Elgin
- Dragon's Egg - Robert l. Forward
- The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands - Stephen King
Remove
At the appointed time my friend swung by and picked up my stuff and proceeded to the FreeMeet.
Later he called to tell me that it was pretty easy. He was met at the door by volunteers, who took the things he had brought and whisked them to the area where the actual swapping was taking place. He didn't even have to stay or go down to the swap area. However, he did go just to take a peek to see how it was set up.
I don't know if all FreeMeets are organized in this manner, but this format certainly worked for us!
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