If you have any items you need to get rid of this is a great place to find people in your area (or even non-profit agencies) that can make a use for them.  The main idea is to keep usable stuff out of our landfills but it's also a great way for people to help each other out.  

Last year we were in need of a nebulizer for pneumonia (yes, lucky me) and could not afford one with my husband being out of work and no health insurance.  I remembered that I was a member of our local freecycle group and decided to post a message to see if anyone had one not in use.  Sure enough, a neighbor just a few streets over sent me a reply the same night and I was able to pick it up and get back to breathing again.  It was sitting in her closet and had never been used.  What a blessing.  She was my angel that week for sure, and freecycle helped us connect.  

If you're not a member already, visit the site at freecycle.org and join the group closest to your home.  In some larger cities you may want to join a few that are close to you, but for most people one group is enough.  And while it's okay to ask for a needed item on occasion, it's more important to post items to give away.  Items that you might otherwise put out for trash, or have sitting in your basement collecting dust that a neighbor could use.

You never know unless you ask, and freecycle gives us a great way to do that.

Also, for everyone's safety, it's a good idea to meet people at a public location to offer or pick up items; instead of your home.

A note about garage sales and ebay...

Instead of having a garage sale or selling your unwanted stuff on eBay you can also donate these items to your local Salvation Army, Goodwill, Pregnancy Help Center, Women's Shelter, Rescue Mission, Animal Adoption Centers (they are always in need of pet supplies and old towels), or other charity-based thrift stores.