Users call it a “Gifting Economy.”

The staff at Good News PDX calls it a “Cyber Space Swap Meet.”

The official name is “Freecycling.”

It’s like the barter section of Craigslist or the recent Trash to Treasure event in St John’s. 

Since 2003, Portlandians have been swapping their stuff through this online bulletin board.

Albert Kauffman helped start the local chapter six years ago and tells Good News PDX that the swaps offer a more personal connection than swining by the local mall and buying whatever it is you’re looking for.  Not only do users get to hear the personal story behind the item they’re taking home (”my dad bought me this sled when I was six years old”) but often, people find new playmates activity partners in the process.  After all, let’s say you’re swapping a mountain bike.  They like Mountain biking.  You like Mountain Biking.  Why not go Mountain Biking together.

The site is growing everyday, partially due to the downturned economy, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for your own personal jackpot.

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Operation Homefront

When mom or dad are serving overseas, budgets can get tight back home.  Especially in the current financial crisis, more and more families are having trouble covering groceries, diapers and pet food.  But that will be a bit easier after this weekend.

Operation Homefront helps the families of soldiers when times get tough.

“We offer help if they run into a financial crisis and can’t pay their rent or their electric bill.  Stuff like that,” says Becky Ginsbach, a program coordinator with the Portland chapter.  Beyond cash, they also send care packages overseas and now, they’re offering care packages at home.

Saturday morning, volunteers will cut the ribbon on a brand new food pantry offering boxes of groceries, baby supplies and pet food to families who have hit a rough patch.  Ginsbach tells Good News PDX she expects to see an increase in the already rising demand for help as Oregon sets to deploy 3,500 more soliders next weekend.

The entire project is covered through donations and volunteers.  You can help by clicking here.

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Anyone who has cleaned out a closet, a garage or an attic will always wind up with the same piles: Stuff you want to keep, stuff that’s garbage/recyclable and stuff that is in perfectly good shape but you’ll never use again.

This weekend, you can swap that old set of golf clubs for a like-new microwave.  Or trade in some children’s books for a computer keyboard.  It’s all part of the Trash to Treasure day in St John’s.

Credit for the idea goes to Andrea Davey.  She started this cool place called Swap N Play where families bring their kids to play together and swap gently worn toys, books and clothing (call it “hand me downs” for only children and first borns).  Goodwill will be on hand for the event and gets to take all of the items that don’t find a new home.

But Trash to Treasure is more than just a free swap meet.  Davey tells Good News PDX they’ll also be taking all that junk that is recyclable but you can’t leave at your curb (old electronics, styrofoam, metal, etc.).  Volunteers will shuttle it to the proper dump sites throughout the day.

The event is on Saturday at 7535 N Chicago Ave in St John’s.  For more info or to learn about Swap N Play, click here.

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SOLV

On Saturday it’s supposed to be a pretty nice day.  Some sunshine, highs in the 60’s.  Perfect day to get some dirt under your finger nails and mingle with your neighbors.

Every Earth Day, SOLV organizes dozens of SOLV IT volunteer programs around the state.  There are 120 sites in Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, Columbia and Yamhill counties this year, all of which were designed by volunteers or local businesses.  Projects run from cleaning up illegal dumpsites to tidying up the local school playground.  Nancy Wilmes, a program coordinator with SOLV IT, says the personal nature of each program (picking up the trash from your kids playground or sweeping away the mud from your street) are what make the program so successful.

To find the projects in your neighborhood click here.

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Taxes are due on Wednesday.  Out of curiosity, are you still just staring at a pile of receipts and blank forms?  Not to fret, there is help available and, best of all, it’s free.

The IRS (in partnership with AARP) offers free tax prep for people with low to moderate income.  For absolutely no charge you can sit down with an actual person who will look over all your deductions and fill out the paperwork (volunteers are carefully trained by the IRS so no need to stress) and even e-file your claim for you. 

There are dozens of locations in the Portland area, some are taking appointments but a bunch allow walk-ups.  Just don’t forget the necessary papers (W 2’s, receipts, Social Security info for you and your dependants).  Oh, and it also might help to bring a book, magazine or newspaper.  Because of the economy they are seeing a lot of people take advantage of the free service this year so there can be a bit of a wait.

Best of all, volunteers will be filing paperwork up through April 15th.  To find a spot in your neighborhood click here.

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“Mom, dad. Tell us how you two met again!”

OregonRedCross.ORG

“Well, Janey, your mother and I were practicing mouth-to-mouth when . . . “

A local couple may use that EXACT story fifteen years down the road while sitting around the table with their kids.  It turns out, the Valentines Day “Singles CPR Night” at the Red Cross successfully made a match.  While the blood donation hub won’t give specifics about the couple, we do know the happy duo have been together since meeting, six weeks ago, to learn life saving techniques.

Thanks in part to the stellar matchmaking, the Red Cross is offering another singles’ night in a couple weeks.  April 22^nd at the Ace Hotel.  Participants get free snacks and drinks, plus you’ll know that everyone in the room is available.

For more info check out the Red Cross.  

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Some of the ReFit team at work

Larry Klobertanz has first hand experience as a witness to the strength of the human spirit.

He met a mom whose daughter was confined to a wheelchair, unable to move.  Mom, watched over her 24-hours a day, preparing special meals that had to be delivered through a feeding tube.

Then, there was the elderly couple who needed walkers to get around their home.

And the colleague who’s son was in a car accident, only to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

But in everyone of these cases, and dozens more, Klobertanz has been able to make a difference.

When his colleague’s son suffered his accident, a team of remodelers banded together in Eugene to redo the young man’s fraternity house (which wasn’t fully accessible).  At no charge, they installed ramps and an elevator.

From that, Refit Portland was born.  A non-profit, volunteer-based organization, ReFit teams remodel the homes of families dealing wtih a disability to make things more functional.

The elderly couple had their bathroom fixtures replaced so they could get in and out of the shower with greater ease.

That mother, watching over her daughter every waking hour, had her kitchen redone so the massive wheelchair could move around more effectively.

The team has done everything from widen a door to redo an entire home, at no cost to the families.  The program is gaining huge momentum and is always looking for volunteers and donors (no, you do not need any experience).  Just click here for more info.

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Steven Lane - The Columbian

Walk through your local department store and check out the racks of prom dresses on display this time of year.  Then check the price tag.

Swallow your tongue?  Yeah, so did we.  Every girl should feel like a princess on prom night, but at a couple hundred bucks a pop (plus shoes, make up, hair, jewelry, dinner and tickets to the dance itself), Prom can wind up topping your monthly mortgage payment.

That’s why Operation Fairy Godmother is so cool (there’s a great write up on it here in The Columbian).

Girls from all over Vancouver can donate an old dress and pick up a brand new one in exchange.  At the annual dress swap, volunteers man sewing machines for on the spot alterations while experts offer make up and hair tips.

Now, if only they can come up with “Operation-free-college-tuition” or “Operation-free-reliable-safe-preowned-car” parents in Vancouver would be all set.

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Jonathan House - The Beaverton Valley Times

Sometimes we run across a story with so much “good” to it . . . we don’t really know where to begin.  Consider this:

College kids, volunteering their weekend to help a disabled family.

Local contractors donating their time and supplies to help local families dealing with disabilities.

A family, hit by tragedy nearly a year ago finally getting some normalcy back in their day.

See?  Where do you start?

The story which you can read in this week’s Beaverton valley Times goes like this:

A year ago, Sam Taha was hit by a stroke and now can’t move around without a wheelchair and help from his wife Fafi.  Hard enough in an open, flat surface but you can forget negotiating the couple’s two-story Beaverton home.

Enter ReFit.  ReFit is a group of local contractors who have spent the last decade, donating their spare time and supplies to families dealing with a disability.  The crews do everything from widening a door to fit a wheelchair to completely rebuilding entire rooms.  

For the Taha project, ReFit needed some extra labor which prompted a group of students at PCC to pitch in over two days.

All told, the group built and installed ramps for the Taha’s.  The couple says they are thrilled by the gesture, the kids say they were thrilled by the experience and Refit was thrilled by the opportunity.

How’s THAT for Good News?

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How far would you go to help a worthy cause?  Most of us are willing to donate our money.  A good number of us will donate our time.  But it takes a special breed of human being to sign up for the Polar Plunge set to take place on the banks of the Columbia this weekend.

Hundreds of people will climb out of their warm vehicles, take one last sip of Starbucks, shed their wintry clothes down to a bathing suit and RUN into the icy Columbia River.  The Polar Bears are taking the frigid plunge to benefit Special Olympics and expect to raise about $100K.

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