Posted by Todd (216.199.6.96) on April 14, 2000 at 18:05:28:
Hi all-
Just read Tracy's post to Carld. It got me thinking, but perhaps in a way she didn't intend.
We have all seen many posts from people who have financial troubles, often due to CH but sometimes just due to life. Most of us can't afford to send money to everyone who would be helped by it, but maybe we can help anyway.
Tracy didn't ask for a thing, but she did mention the challenges of clothing a 2 year old. I remember those days clearly...dang kid outgrew new clothes before I got them home from the store.
So, anyone have young kids/nieces/nephews/grandkids, etc who have outgrown their duds? What are you going to do with them? Salvation Army, Goodwill, yard sale (50 cents apiece).
Anyone, especially the UK folks, that could send things on to Tracy?
Can we put our enlarged gray matter to work and figure out a way to help each other out with a swap shop?
Maybe we could set up a Barter Booth as an OUCH activity. If someone would donate their time and skills to coordinate it, people with things to donate could email what they have to the Coordinator. She/He could compile a list and send it on to the OUCH website master to post.
Donors would earn 'credits' they could 'spend' to 'buy' other donations. Or maybe credits could be used to pay for OUCH membership renewals. People with nothing to donate but with needs could 'earn' credits by working for OUCH.
To begin with, donors would have to pay shipping, unless receivers could afford it. Eventually, OUCH might be able to designate some funds to cover the shipping.
Meds would have to be excluded....too many regulations and too high a risk of illegality. But I'll bet there are all kinds of other things that would help folks out.
Clothes for kids.
Old software someone might use to start a home business.
Household items for someone starting over.
Just about any 'yard sale' type item the owner no longer wants/needs.
Just an idea.
KTSSU,
T