The Moderators of Gilroy's Freecycle

Freecycle is an online local community that lets you post things you no longer want and request things you need. If someone is interested in what you're offering, you connect, via e-mail, and they'll pick up whatever it is that you posted. Gilroy Patch spoke with two of the moderators of Gilroy's Freecycle, Steve Darby and Cynthia Clinton, to get the inside scoop.

Gilroy Patch: I enjoy reading my one daily e-mail from Freecycle that tells me what Gilroyans are posting and requesting that day.

Steve Darby: I enjoy reading the posts too.

Patch: Do you ever stop and laugh at what folks post? Recently, I saw a listing that said, "Offer: 3 mean chickens." Somehow, I doubt that the San Francisco Freecycle group has listings like that. Seems uniquely Gilroy, somehow.

Darby: The mean chickens may be the best example of Gilroy, small town, USA.

Patch: Which posts have made you laugh?

Darby: I don't want to embarrass any of our members, but I did laugh at the post that said, "Offered: 4 left-hand gloves." I’m always a little amused when people ask for big-ticket items like laptops, an Xbox 360, flat-screen TV, concert tickets and iPhones. I've seen numerous posting similar to these:

"Wanted: Car in good running condition. Can't afford to perform any repairs." 
"Wanted: Hot tub that seats 6. My family and I want one to relax in after a long day."

"Wanted: Pool Table must be in good condition. Please do not e-mail if you can't deliver."

Patch: Do you think any of these folks ever get these big-ticket items?

Cynthia Clinton: I think some may get offers, but they might not meet the criteria. For instance, the cars may need repairs or the pool table may have flood damage. I think the Freecycle community largely wants to give when they can. When I've requested something, I've even had people respond and offer to loan me what I need.

Patch: And there's the other side of the coin: people who are asking for simple, everyday things. I know there's a woman who asks for yarn and fabric scraps every six months or so because she makes blankets, which she donates to local hospitals for pediatric patients and sends overseas to the troops.

Clinton: There are requests that really tug at the heart strings. I've seen people who just need groceries.

Patch: I saw some heart-warming posts over the holidays. One woman posted that she and her husband had both lost their jobs. She was asking for old toys for her children for Christmas. I e-mailed her and I know the Freecycle members gave her teddy bears and Christmas lights and some new clothing for the kids. She was really touched by how people responded to her post.

Clinton: What I really love is seeing baby items re-circulated from family to family. These things can be passed many times before they wear out, and there are lots of new families that can use those items.

Patch: How long have you been a moderator for the Gilroy Freecycle group?

Darby: Six years, 9 months, 7 days, 5 hours, 36 minutes. Time flies when you’re having fun.

Clinton: Probably about a year.

Patch: How much time do you spend on Freecycle each week?

Darby: I work full-time, so I check it in the evening and in the mornings before I leave for work.

Clinton: I check it a few times a day, starting around mid-afternoon, and I usually close it out around midnight. I'm a full-time college student, so there are times, during midterms or finals, when I only check it once, but all of us stay on top of it. It works.

Patch: What are you checking for? 

Clinton: We make sure the messages are appropriate for families and that what's being offered is free.

Patch: Steve, you called Freecycle an inventive mix between donating and recycling. Explain how it works.

Darby: The basic rules are simple: no politics or spam; everything must be free, legal, and appropriate for all. No trading, no swapping, no buying, no selling. If there’s an object you want to give or receive, you just post a message with an e-mail contact, and if someone shows interest, arrange for a pick up. You can choose to get one e-mail every day that lists all the Freecycle messages for that day.

Patch: How many postings do you get in a day?

Darby: It varies. Sometimes there are 25 postings, sometimes as few as three or four. 

Patch: Why did each of you become a moderator for this group?

Darby: When I first came across this wonderful way to reuse and recycle, there were no groups in the area. I knew that a group like this could be successful in Gilroy and an asset to the community.  This is all volunteer work, and it’s been a wonderful experience. The group has now grown to more than 1,800 members, and there are so many items offered daily. I like that they're claimed and averted from going in to a landfill.

Patch: I imagine that someone who puts in the amount of time that you do feels strongly about recycling and reusing materials.

Darby: I love the idea of going beyond the standard recycling of bottles, cans and newspaper. Instead, Freecycle participants can re-use larger miscellaneous items, appliances, furniture and clothing that could still benefit someone else. Re-using can prolong the life of a product much further before it hits the recycling stage.

Patch: Do you ever pick up things from Freecycle?

Clinton: I'm an artist, and my original interest in Freecycle was to rescue materials that could be given new life in art projects. I try to use as many re-purposed things in my work as possible. 

Darby: I'm more likely to post my things than to pick up. I'd rather own fewer possessions and see things I don't need go to people who can use them.

There was a book that came out a few years ago that made a big impression on me. It's called Material World, and it's one of those books that you can study for 1o to 30 minutes, revisit later, and it seems fresh again.  

It shows photos of families in different countries. In each photo, every possession the family owns is outside, in front of their dwelling. One photo has really stayed with me. It's of the Cakoni family who live somewhere near Burrel, Albania. Even though the family's home is extremely modest and they own few possessions, they look like one of the happiest families in the book. The father especially seems to take such joy in his children. Of course, parents in every country love their children, but I sometimes wonder if all our stuff can get in the way.

The best part about Freecycle is the feel-good aspect to sharing and re-using; it helps to save our environment, and it also helps save the money in our wallet.

Patch: Plus it's another way to connect, person to person.

Darby: Yes. Truly, a win, win.

Patch: How can someone become a part of Freecycle?

Darby: You must be a member of a local Freecycle group, but it's very easy to join, and it's free. To find your nearest group, go to freecycle.org and join.

Clinton: I'll be leaving Gilroy in June for Washington state, but I plan to offer my services to the Olympia, Washington Freecycle and just keep going. It's nice to know you can Freecycle just about anywhere.

Click on Freecycle to join or to learn more.