Freecycle online item-giveaway forum gaining strong following in south county

Clinton resident Tijuana Clark was sitting in her office a few weeks ago when she realized she needed a way to organize the stacks of paper piling up on her desk.

Clark sent out an e-mail explaining her predicament to her local Freecycle group, an online forum where residents can post messages about items they need or want to give away for free. Within a week, Clark had a new filing cabinet.

"The person [items are] going to, you know they really want it," said Clark, who has given away and received dozens of items for free since joining one of two Freecycle groups for communities in southern Prince George's County in 2006. "I've had awesome experiences."