Freecycle is one of our favorite resources! So many of our list members get some amazing stuff through Freecycle, including dog crates, newspaper to line bird cages and litter boxes, and even some exercise pens and other supplies. In my experience, I’ve also seen wine glasses collected for centerpieces at a function, and furniture given away that could be used at a shelter, such as desks and chairs.

It’s always a good idea to write to the Freecycle list owner in your area to ask permission to post for wanted items on a monthly basis. Some lists fully allow this, as long as you state the items are for charity, while other lists prohibit the postings. The lists are all individually owned, so there are no standardized rules, and some moderators are not polite people, we’ve discovered. BUT- if you don’t like the Freecycle in your area, check neighboring communities. Many times, there will be a list in your neighboring town or county that might be more friendly to your cause.

For those of you who are dealing with animals being given away on Freecycle, you may want to contact the owner of the Freecycle list to talk with them about being the moderator for all animal issues on the list. This works for several major Freecycle networks, such as the one in Austin, TX with over 20,000 members. All messages are moderated, and those who are posting about animals are offered other resources to use, such as guidelines to make sure people are NOT discarding their animals, and to be wary of free to good home ads, etc. We have a file in our Files folder that one member posted to help others address the free to good home ads on Freecycle.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HumaneFundraising/files/
Take a look at “Free to good home NO” and Dale’s “Freecycle Pet Post Response” documents.