A Givebox is like a nice cupboard where people can put out stuff they don’t need anymore that others can take. A Give Box, also known as a Gift Box or Free Box is a simple way to promote the gift economy and is easy to set up even if you are on your own. It’s simply a box where people are free to put things in for others or to take things from for themselves. Some give boxes are open to all types of property, others encourage people only to give a particular type of item, such as books.
The intention behind these Giveboxes are that they encourage neighborhood communication, exchanging and sharing. It is a form of mutual aid that will help build a sense of community. The first one was made in Berlin in 2011 by Andreas Richter. Giveboxes can be seen in many parts of Berlin. Â The concept has now spread in many cities. It would be great to see these springing up in the United States as well.
Some suggestions: “The box itself should be fairly sturdy and not too small, since you never know what people might put in it. If it is well presented, that will add to the appeal and probably help motivate people to take part. Make sure that people don’t mistake it for a rubbish bin and discard things in it. A clear sign explaining how it works will help here. Some creators of give boxes spend a lot of time to make them beautiful experiences, in Germany, custom built walk-in boxes which work as outdoor structures are popular.
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“Choose somewhere that is safe from the elements, and free from cleaners or others who might tidy it away. A public space in which people have to regularly wait gives busy people a chance to look over what is in the box, while one that they visit regularly allows them to come back later with new items. Waiting rooms and laundrettes are popular choices. The box should be easily visible, but not in anyone’s way. If you place it on the ground, make sure that it will not be mistaken for a waste bin, especially if it is a similar size and shape. Placing it on a low table or other place slightly above ground level may be good for this reason.”
Once the Give Box is set up it should manage itself. Try to get the local media to cover it so it becomes known and people use it or set up their own. If it becomes popular, you could leave a note to contact its users, to meet for social reasons, expand the concept of a sharing economy or build community in other ways.
You may find some near you by looking for “givebox” on Facebook. If there are none near you — start one.
