A free swap meet offers the opportunity for unwanted treasures to be easily shared with others.
Indiana University East and Morrisson-Reeves Library are partnering to offer the public event during spring cleaning season.
Contributors can drop off gently used items between noon-6 p.m. Friday, April 11, at the library, 80 N. Sixth St., Richmond. Volunteers are available to assist with unloading their vehicle upon request.
Participants can leave clothing, household goods, shoes, toys, books, electronics, baby items, home décor, small kitchen appliances and nonperishable food items. Medical supplies, large appliances and large furniture won’t be accepted.
Then, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 12, everyone is invited to browse and take any items they need or want at no cost.
Any remaining items will be donated to local nonprofits or recycled.
Building on a similar event offered by IU East on its campus last year, the free swap is moving to the centrally located library.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Richmond community to come together, share resources and reduce waste,” said Amanda Harris, a community engagement work-study student at IU East’s School of Humanities & Social Sciences. “We are excited to partner with Morrisson-Reeves Library to make this event even more accessible.”
Harris has organized six previous swaps around Indiana, including three in Rushville. The last one attracted many toys, cribs, strollers, Christmas trees and decorations, clothes, and shoes.
“So far I have had very little leftover items from each swap and have been able to get those items donated to individuals who couldn’t make it to the swap, to nonprofits, or recycled,” she said. “No matter how many times I have organized a free swap, they always take my breath away and remind me that there is still a lot of love in this world.”
For additional details, contact Harris at harriamp@iu.edu.
A version of this article appeared in the April 2 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.