ReUseIt—don't throw it out!

Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? ´
 Ezekiel 2:4

I recently came upon a terrific way to get rid of household items we no longer need while helping our neighbors almost instantaneously. And no, it doesn't involve any money.

Two months ago, Supply resident Christine Iodice started a Brunswick County chapter of ReUseIt, a Yahoo Internet group that allows members to post offers to donate their used clothes, furniture, appliances and other items to fellow group members who may be in need of those things—keeping perfectly usable items out of the landfill while filling a need right in your backyard.

Iodice and her family have gone through various economic stages in their lives—from having more than enough to finding themselves in need. The great thing about ReUseIt is, everyone can benefit. Members can give and receive at will. The postings must be free, legal and family friendly, and the postings are monitored.

ReUseIt not only represents the latest phase in environmental activism—called "e-cycling" by those in the know—it's also a way to help build stronger communities.

Right now, Iodice is planning a meet-and-greet for the group members, the majority of whom voted that they wanted to find a way to meet each other. In today's electronic world, face-to-face contact is getting less mandatory, and our spiritual and social lives have suffered all the more for it. If an Internet group can inspire people to want to meet and form relationships with their fellow members, it's a step in the right direction.

Want to know more? To sign up for ReUseIt's Brunswick County chapter, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brunswickcountyreuseit/

Helping others, buliding a stronger community and keeping landfills clean. Sounds like a win-win-win.