LITE Initiatives Autumn Equinox Swap

As the Equinox draws near, please consider taking a few hours to clean your drawers and closets. As you sort and organize summer and winter belongings, pull out your unwanted items: clothing that doesn’t fit, accessories that no longer suit your lifestyle, sale items that did not work out… Be sure to include those unwanted but well meaning gifts – such as personalized wallet gifts and books you don’t want to read or holiday sweatshirts embellished with merry pigs. (Sorry, Mom!) Give these items to friends, neighbors or local charities, sell them at garage sales or on-line, post them as free-bees on local bulletin boards or bring them to a clothing swap!

A clothing swap is a fun, ecological way to get new-to-you clothes and give away unwanted reusables. Yes, the term swap is a somewhat of a misnomer, but that is how it was introduced to me in the early 80’s, and the name stuck. Since then I have organized one or more swaps per year and have saved tens of thousands of dollars for myself and many other people. (i.e., $500 per year x 25 years = $12,500.)

Whether you prefer small intimate gatherings or large public events, the idea is pretty simple: invite people to bring unwanted clothing, accessories and perhaps small reusables and have them to put their goods out in an organized manner. Then everyone can take what they want – for themselves, their family and perhaps friends. The remainder is boxed up and given to non-profits. Often magical events, swaps help ease tight budgets and allows you to try on and perhaps take home items you would never dream of buying. Swaps also helps spread the wealth, raises awareness about reuse and reduces the amount going to landfill.

LITE Initiatives, my group, will be holding an Equinox Swap on Saturday, September 26 from 1-3:30pm at our Synergy Sustainability Center in Santa Rosa. Adjacent to Community Bikes, Synergy is located at 4019 Sebastopol Rd, one short block east of Fulton/Wright Road. Men and women are welcome and kids must be monitored at all times. Each participant over 12 is asked to volunteer for one hour or donate of $5 to help cover costs. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Tasks include planning, promoting, set-up, working the door, staffing the repair center, monitoring, clean-up. Many hands make lite work…

Please bring your friends and carpool. Drop your passengers and goods at Synergy and park in the commercial area one block east. For more information or to be put on the swap announcement list, please email lite@sonic.net.

We at LITE enjoy advising potential organizers, posting swaps to our announcement list and collaborating. It would be great to have the assistance of an ongoing pool of swap lovers – especially some focused on kids for back to school swaps, prom dresses (see article below) and costumes/gifts/toys. For those that want to organize your own swaps, kits are available for low rental fee: portable racks, 100+ hangers, sample signs and invitations.

end

Resources and related articles:

How to Prepare For A Swap: www.liteinit.org, left column

Non-profits that accept quality goods for reuse: