According to Grow NYC:

New Yorkers looking to reduce, reuse, and save money this holiday season
are invited to participate in Stop ‘N’ Swap®, a free community reuse event organized by local non-profit GrowNYC, in collaboration with
iDig2Learn and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

“GrowNYC is a lifesaver! Our island community doesn’t have a thrift shop so we are thrilled that the 217 PTA provided space for this free, kind-to-our-wallets, and kind-to-the-earth Stop N’ Swap!” said Christina Delfico, iDig2Learn, founder. 

Give the gift of a cleaner future by joining the ever-growing reuse community for the holidays! “Reuse is one of the best ways to conserve natural resources, prevent waste and pollution, and save money,” said Christina Salvi, Risk and Safety Coordinator of GrowNYC’s Zero Waste Programs. 

The public is invited to bring clean, portable, reusable items to share with those who can use them. No one is required to bring something to take something — you can simply show up with a bag and see what’s free for the taking. Books, toys, fashionable clothing, housewares, and electronics are just some of the offerings; furniture and other large items are not accepted at the swap. Anything leftover at the end of the day is donated or recycled. All participants must be wearing a mask regardless of vaccination status. 

WHAT: Free Stop ‘N’ Swap Community Reuse Event 

WHEN: Saturday, November 13, 12pm-3pm 

WHERE: Outdoor Schoolyard at P.S./I.S. 217, 646 Main St., Roosevelt Island *This is an outdoor event. In case of inclement weather, event will be held at The Helix, across Main Street 

Since 2007, GrowNYC Stop ‘N’ Swaps have developed a regular following among thrifty and environmentally conscious New Yorkers. “The average NYC household discards about 2,000 pounds of waste a year. By reusing through events like Stop ‘N’ Swap, NYC residents can take part in diverting some of the 2.5 million tons of refuse disposed of each year, keeping them out of landfills and incinerators,” said Marcel Van Ooyen, GrowNYC President and CEO. “In fact, it’s a triple-win; in addition to economic and environmental benefits, they also build community as New Yorkers come out and meet their neighbors.”

iDig2Learn’s Ms Delfico adds:

When GrowNYC called to offer their free Stop N’ Swap goods exchange event to
Roosevelt Island we said yes before they even finished their sentence. 

This will be the third time we have
partnered and Islanders love the idea of reuse and dropping off their gently
used toys, household goods and clothing and picking up a few new-to-you items
neighbors no longer need. 

And our 2019 Swap yielded over 6,300 pounds of good
quality items during the 3 hour event and more than 80% if those items went
back to neighbors with the rest was donated to Goodwill. 

Saturday November
13th is the perfect day for the Swap because it is just before the holidays.
This year we needed a new home since the Manhattan Park theater is a staging
area for renovation work. And the 217 PTA immediately loved the idea of
hosting this community favorite and the 217 administration leadership agreed
in record time to using the outdoor schoolyard. 

Here’s how it works, bring portable items in working condition to the 217
schoolyard at 645 Main Street from noon to 3pm Saturday 11/13. GrowNYC will
weigh them and set them out on tables. You don’t have to drop to take, so look
around the apartment for those nice items you no longer use and give them the
gift of a new home or just stop by.

As one young islander said, “It’s like a thrift shop but free.” 

See you at the Swap!

Ms Delfico and Grow NYC’s Victoria Dearborn describe the very successful 2018 Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap

and our local Girl Scouts encourage us all

to recycle at the Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap.