There are 12,547 active members in the Richmond chapter of Freecycle with more joining everyday - I joined yesterday! Freecycle is a wonderful concept that combines aspects of eBay and craigslist, and shares a similar grassroots mission with Stuff. We wanted to share this exciting opportunity so you can join the Richmond chapter and work individually to avoid filling landfills with valuable and functional STUFF. With everyone's budget tightening in our economic recession, this is an amazing opportunity to give to your community and find things you need without having to shell out cash. It's all FREE!

Here's the basic concept (and check out the video from Freecycle):
1. You sign-up on Freecycle's website and join a local group in your area. I joined the Richmond group.
2. After approval from the group (to filter out the freeloaders, spammers, and people who abuse the system), you are allowed to post on the message board. You only post stuff to offer, when your stuff is taken, stuff you want, or stuff that you have received to fulfill a want.
3. Once you find something you want or someone wants something you have from the listserv, you communicate via personal email/number (not on the message board). You two will arrange pick-up or drop-off of the item, foster a sense of community in Richmond, and someone gets stuff for free.

The exciting part about Freecycle is that it's not just local or national, it's a global movement!
Elisabeth