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There are literally thousands of volunteers who represent the passion and commitment behind the scenes which enable The Freecycle Network™ to function as a grassroots and nonprofit gifting movement. Here are some ways you can help.
Already a moderator? Want to get more involved with Freecycle.org?
If you're interested in making a contribution to your community and your planet and in keeping stuff out of the local landfill, please keep reading!
Being a moderator doesn't require a lot of time but does require some dedication. There is a lot of support available. It's fun and it's a small thing that can make such a big difference.
We don't have anything tangible to give to a moderator - it's all free, right? - but it's rewarding nevertheless. You'll be keeping the Freecycle Network ticking over and ensuring usable items stay out of landfill sites to have a new lease of life.
Here are some frequently asked questions about being a moderator:
First, make sure there really is no Town group in your area. If there is, it, of course, has priority. See here for how to check and apply to start a new Town group.
Do you have a skill you could volunteer to help Freecycle? We are always looking for help in areas such as translation, graphics, fund-raising, and networking. Contact us with your desired volunteering position.
Let us know what you think would improve the Freecycle experience by emailing our Suggestion box. Thank you!
If you feel a "volunteer calling" beyond moderating for your local group, then by all means have a look at the opportunities below. You may also contact Volunteers if you have general volunteer-related questions. Thanks for all the good you are doing and making possible!
IMOD team members work behind the scenes to keep headless groups running until new moderators are recruited. Although each IMOD might moderate 50-100 groups, it's not as daunting as it sounds, as IMODgroups are fully unmoderated and member inquiries are handled by team leaders. This is a fun, low-stress volunteer position open to current Freecycle.org moderators of all experience levels. Hours are flexible.
If you are already a Freecycle.org moderator and would like to know more about the IMOD team, please send an email with the subject line that states I want to volunteer with the IMod Team.
This team consists of the Freecycle.org Help Team, Spam Control and Social Media (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram).
The Help Team assists Freecycle members with using the Freecycle.org website, including things like forgotten passwords, difficulty logging in, and providing instructions on how to use the various functions of the website. If you enjoy solving problems and helping people (with a virtual smile), this could be the team for you. Our members are counting on the Help Team to answer their questions in a timely manner, so we ask for a commitment to checking messages at least once a day, several days a week.
The Spam Control Team proactively identifies and deals with accounts that post spam or scams, as well as responding to reports of scams and spam from moderators and members. If you like detective work and have a technical bent, Spam Control could be a good fit. We are looking for a time commitment of at least two hours a week, spread out in whatever way works for you.
The Social Media Team actively promotes The Freecycle Network on the major social media platforms, as well as sharing articles on related topics such as upcycling, recycling, and climate change. If you are excited about communicating the Freecycle message to the world, we’d love to have you on the Social Media Team. We ask team members to create 1-2 new posts per week and check the social media platforms regularly to reply to messages. Experience with graphic design or social media campaigns would be greatly appreciated, but is not required.
Participation of each of these teams gives the satisfaction of helping others and communicating with members and mods all over the world. Team Leads provide training and constant support. If you're interested, please send an email with the subject line that states I want to volunteer with the Support Team and mention which team you are interesting in joining in the body of your email.
The NGA Team receives and processes requests from members who want to start new Town groups. NGA Team Members research proposed Town groups for viability and handle all aspects of new Town setup. A qualified volunteer is adept at map reading, has an interest in geography and possesses good internet research skills. Applicants should have a solid familiarity with Freecycle.org guidelines and the Moderator Manual. Because NGA team members correspond with applicants from all over the world, patience, good people skills and a sense of humor are a plus. Training is provided.
If you're interested, please send an email with the subject line that states I want to volunteer with the NGA team
This position is usually filled by special invitation or via promotion from other support teams, as we've found the experience and knowledge base from these teams to be beneficial to the volunteer prior to taking on the varied responsibilities that come with GOA. However, suitably qualified volunteers can be an exception, so if you feel you have the necessary skills please do get in touch.
Candidates for this position must be extremely tactful; have a good grasp of the written word; be friendly and insightful; be willing to devote several hours a week to the "job"; be fair-minded and unprejudiced; and have strong problem-solving and diplomatic skills. Potential volunteers for this position must also have a complete understanding of the workings of Freecycle.org and its guidelines, as well as an understanding of what is appropriate for groups and moderators. A solid familiarity with the Moderator's Manual is a must.
Please note that this is a time consuming position that requires at least an hour per day. If you're interested, please send an email with the subject line that states I want to volunteer with the GOA Team.
Our Social Media team is always on the lookout for Freecycle.org moderators who have good graphic design abilities to assist with our Social Media team. If you're interested, please send an email with a subject line that states I want to volunteer with the Graphics Team.
Translators are sometimes needed to translate portions of our site from English into other languages. If you can spare a little time each day to translate a few paragraphs, over time your efforts will enable members and moderators to see instructions and information in their own language. This will make it easier for you, your fellow moderators, and your group members to understand what Freecycle is about. If you're interested, please send an email tellling us the languages you are able to translate to, with a subject line that states I want to volunteer as a Translator.