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Niagara Falls
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Buy Nothing Project for NOTL started by local resident

Niagara-on-the-Lake resident Julia Buxton-Cox says her newly launched Facebook group, Buy Nothing Niagara-on-the-Lake, has already exceeded all her expectations.

Since its launch on Jan. 3, the group has attracted more than 200 members. The purpose of the group is to spread goodness in town and allow residents to get together and have a face-to-face interaction.

“So far, I’ve been really pleased to see people offering to pick things up or drive things over or get together to meet,” Buxton-Cox said in a phone interview.

The group is a local branch of a worldwide Buy Nothing Project, where group members can lend, offer or look for services and goods.

So far, NOTL residents have gifted pots and pans, paints and stains, bedsheets, tennis racquets with tennis balls, a pet bed, a crate, dish towels, jars and mini plastic containers.

One resident also offered the use of her a 14-foot trailer.

“It’s amazing, people are posting really good things,” Buxton-Cox said.

When something has been given away, the members are asked to edit their post to indicate it’s been gifted and leave their posts up to show other members what they can post and ask for.

Group members will also be able to offer their time and skills, Buxton-Cox told The Lake Report.

To be accepted in the group, people have to live within the boundaries of NOTL, not belong to any other Buy Nothing Project groups and be 19 years or older.

Buxton-Cox noted there has been a lot of interest from residents living in St. Davids and on Concessions to join the group.

As a group administrator, Buxton-Cox has completed seven days of training on various modules and how to set up the page, deal with various requests and solve any problems.

Buxton-Cox encourages everyone to get involved and be bold in asking for things they’re looking for. 

“It is a good way to meet neighbours. We’re trying to encourage things other than anonymous porch pickups, like meet your neighbour if it’s something small or maybe meet for a coffee at the community centre,” she said.

“There are no opinions to give, there’s no fear of speaking out or asking for what you need or sharing or giving. It’s total acceptance right from the beginning.”

The group can be found by searching Buy Nothing Niagara-on-the-Lake on Facebook.

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