With the economy not so stellar these days, it’s a motivating time to be creative about shopping. And we all have things around the house that we really no longer need or want. Traction is here to help on both ends, with a stuff swap this Sunday, May 31:
WHAT: A Stuff Swap for SWOOP
WHERE: Traction HQ, 1018 Broad St, Durham
WHEN: Sunday, May 31, 2-5 PM
BRING: Stuff you don’t want that someone else might.
Here’s the deal: You bring your quality stuff that you don’t want. You find stuff you do want from other Tractivists. We’ll send the stuff that no one takes home to the annual yard sale of Strong Women Organizing Outrageous Projects (SWOOP).
SWOOP typically takes on large-scale, one-day community service labor projects. For example, they’ve helped at the Family Violence & Rape Crisis Services, CASA, Triangle AIDS Interfaith Network, and homes of individuals in need. They put up fencing, clean up brush after a storm, build a playground, do home repairs, and take on other constructive projects. (Check out a sample of their projects and thank-you letters .) SWOOP not only does super-cool hands-on good-for-the-world things, they also build community among women with networking and fun!
SWOOP’s annual yard sale is their main fundraiser for administrative costs, tools and supplies for their outrageously helpful projects. We’re happy to send leftover items their way.
To recap:
1. We’ll have music, games, maybe something to nibble on, and stuff. Bring stuff! Leave stuff! Take stuff! (Please bring items you know are functional.)
2. Leftovers go to SWOOP’s fundraising yard sale (except for adult clothing and computer parts; we’ll deal with those separately).
3. It’s a winning situation all around:
-You win because you have less stuff you don’t want and more that you do, and you haven’t had to pay for it.
-The environment wins because your old stuff doesn’t go to a landfill and your new stuff didn’t need new resources to make.
-SWOOP wins because they have more items to raise funds for more outrageously good work.
Write to stuff@gettraction.org if you think you’ll come (we’d love a head count), if you have questions, or if you’d like to help organize/pack up the stuff!
Lisa & Eileen
Happy gardeners, berry nibblers, and Tractivists