The Motherboard gives Bushwick residents community option for second-hand items
The idea was originally part of an Earth Day block party thrown at The House of Yes, which is right down the street. It's a place where people can try to find or give away almost anything.
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A giant corkboard made of reused materials on Jefferson Street is giving Bushwick residents a community alternative for second-hand markets, like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.
"Instead of having people searching the internet, people here in the neighborhood finding both a way to exchange their goods, as well as fill some of their needs," said Eric Jansen, who help put up the Motherboard and still maintains it.
The idea was originally part of an Earth Day block party thrown at The House of Yes, which is right down the street. It's a place where people can try to find or give away almost anything.
"It's kind of like that whole take a penny, give a penny vibe, but with not just pennies - with things," said Chris Dacs, who lives nearby and posted looking for storage space for his art supplies.
With specific sections based on category, posts have ranged from people looking for jobs and friends to more material items, like sleeping bags, electronics and plants.
"The type of stuff that you'd find on a stoop," said Jansen. "But this way, you can think about it ahead of time, and give someone in the community a hand.
People interested simply take a piece of paper, circle whether they are giving something away or looking for something, write what it is on the front, their contact info on the back, and wait to see if anybody reaches out.
"There's a lot of that giving, taking energy vibe that they do around here, so it kind of made perfect sense," said Dacs. "Put it out in the universe, get it back. Worst case scenario, someone calls me, best case scenario, someone calls me."
While the block is not particularly busy, Jansen says it is getting foot traffic.
"People still stop constantly, taking pictures, adding a little note," he said.
If posts keep coming, Dacs says the next project would be to get some solar panels and lights, so people can stop by at night.
