Recycle - Buy Nothing

From Gail: "Most of my friends are over three quarters of a century in age and still find ways to create positive community action. The email below is from my friend Nancy in Seattle who also shared a 'turtle card' that our friend Kathy takes joy in creating that 'show' the caring actions in her delightful way."

Nancy writes:
"To explain Kathy's latest turtle card is sort of a long story. I was telling Kathy that I belong to a neighborhood "Buy Nothing" group. If you haven't heard of it, it's a Facebook group where people can list, usually via picture, an item they are finished with that they are ready to pass on, and people can say they would like to have it - and if there are multiple people who are interested, then the person offering can do a random drawing to decide who will get the item. For example, I had a turtle sandbox my grandkids were done with, so I listed it there, and a lady with a toddler came and got it and was delighted to have it, which made me happy too! Ditto with a kids' wading pool. You can only belong to one "Buy Nothing" group from your own neighborhood - mine has about 800 members, and it's nice to meet your neighbors by giving and getting things.
 
I also posted an old turtle rug from my playhouse, and some grandparents came and got it. That turned out to be an interesting situation because we recognized each other, and it turned out to be Lindsay's preschool teacher whom I hadn't seen in more than 35 years, and we had a great time catching up - and they live close by, so we may get together soon.
 
I have also given away a half can of spray paint, some extra lettuce starts, some window box holders, and a kid's play kitchen. And, believe it or not, a lot of garden rocks, which actually four people wanted! So I divided them up - there were a lot!
 
I have also gotten a few things that people were giving away - a better blanket for our bed, a nice jacket for Ken, some extra basil, and some shelf pegs (just needed three, and someone said she had a box of them I could choose from, and loaned it to me so I could pick out the size I needed.)
 
Also, if people are needing an item, they can post a request on there - for example, I have old audiotapes, and my player was broken and I wanted to listen to them, so I asked for that, and amazingly, someone had one in their garage collecting dust and gave it to me. There are people in my neighborhood who are just starting out, or have recently moved here and can't even afford to shop at Goodwill, or are on a very limited budget, so they have requested, for example, a bed, sheets, a dresser, or clothes for their kids.
 
(Of course, one can also donate items to Goodwill, but the donation line to mine often stretches around the block and the personal connection is missed!)
 
You may be interested to know that the idea was started by two women on Bainbridge Island just west of here in 2013, and now has spread to 44 countries! And they are going to expand the idea to include non-Facebook groups for those who are not on Facebook. I also didn't mention that people can ask to borrow things on the website - someone just asked to borrow some camping equipment for the weekend.
 
So I was telling Kathy about this, and she came up with this elaborate card. Enjoy!"
 
PS from Gail - I would love to hear if you participate in a Buy Nothing group in your neighborhood. It's particularly great for us down-sizers.