Free

Absolutely! I was first introduced to "free boxes" when hiking a long trail. At town crossings, there were typically "hiker boxes" where one could leave items or take a free item which others had left behind. Then, while in Telluride later that year, I found the town's Free Box, and wondered why every town in the world didn't have such a simple and easy FreeBox. SoWal could definitely use several FreeBoxes to reuse all of that cheap plastic beach gear which no one wants to haul back home after a week at the beach.

I agree! Books too -- I have bunches that the library won't accept b/c of highlighting or notes, but they're perfectly fine and reasonably new, mostly nonfiction. Would love a place to offer those for others to enjoy.

Wonder if there are any shop owners who would devote a small space to something like that? Maybe coffee houses could have a box of a certain size and a requirement that if it's full, you can only put in if you take out an equal or greater volume of books/magazinnes..... to keep it from becoming just a junk drop and maintenance monster.

We have visited the Freebox in Crestone every time we're there and it's always fun. Sometimes we donate, sometimes we pick up items, sometimes both.

Thanks Susan. I wish Telluride's still operated with that much simplicity.

The Free Box can be one of the most useful & rational assets a community could hope to have. After more than 30 years in Telluride, the Free Box has become a bit of a management challenge ..... such as, where to best locate it, what's allowed to be left there, gotta keep it from being simply a trash receptacle, needs to be looked after by someone on a regular basis.

In the late '80s, during the early days of glasnost, the Telluride Institute was hosting a delegation of Soviet academics & bureaucrats -- they were thrilled with the Free Box, figured it proved there was hope for our society.

I agree, the effective recycling of the mountains of discarded beach gear here would be worth it alone.

i agree, the effective recycling of the mountains of discarded beach gear here would be worth it alone.

amen to that!!!!

I think thisis a great idea. I an relocating to the area asap. First I need to find a 1 or 2 bdrm. rental in the 30A area or over by the bay. I will be downsizinng tremendously and having a huge garage sale before I leave New Orleans, Whatever I don't sell perhaps I can put in a free box if there is one in the area, Could someone please let me know? It would be nice to help others by donating things they may not be able to afford. Please let me know more about this or how I may help with this project. I look forward to meeting new friends and am a very giving person with a good heart. I only have 2 days left to find a reasonable rental. I would like to move on north side of 98 by the bay. Please let me know if you know of anything. Thanks so much, Brenda

I love the free box idea! I had the pleasure of visiting both the free box in Crestone and Telluride and at both locations, met new friends. While in Ashville, I met someone who kept a free box in their home and when they had gatherings, the free box would appear.

Kdwells posted a thread about how they are trying to recycle beach crap in Alabama.

Think the free box is a good idea, but would need some limitations so people wouldn't use it as a dump.

The "free box" idea is great! However we have Caring and Sharing,And other folks that help families in need year round. Donate to them. If someone just needs an outfit to go to work, We give, then they do.Simple. Oh, If whoever "they" are, can find a job.:chill: