Need a pair of winter boots for your toddler? Try posting a request to your local FreeCycle community – someone could have a pair they no longer need sitting in a closet.

The FreeCycle Network is a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free and open to anyone. You just need access to a computer that’s connected to the internet and an email account. To sign up, find your community by visiting FreeCycle’s website at www.freecycle.org.

Keep FreeCycle in mind if you want to find a new home for something -- whether it's an old highchair, that overgrown patch of mint plants in your back yard, those toddler toys your kids have outgrown, or the free cans of formula you’ll never use. It’s this kind of giving and receiving that brings neighbors closer together and builds strong communities. Plus, it’s really fun!

Clothes 4 Kids is a city-wide project designed to provide affordable back-to-school clothes for all Lakewood families. During June and July, residents bring donated clothing and school supplies to any Lakewood Fire Station. They are open 7 days a week and will provide receipts for donated items. Donated items are available to the public for resale at the “Clothes 4 Kids” Super Sale in August. Visit onelakewood.com/Events for more information.

Craigslist is a website that offers free classified advertisements in most major cities across the nation. New and used children’s clothes, furniture, shoes, toys and maternity clothes can all be found at yard sale prices in the For Sale/Barter/Wanted section. You just need access to a computer that’s connected to the internet and an email account to buy or sell. Check out www.craigslist.org or the Cleveland specific site at http://cleveland.craigslist.org/

Many area parents do all their kid-clothes shopping in one fell swoop at the area Early Childhood PTAs Baby Bargain Bonanzas. These sales are like giant garage sales, but they’re held in a high school gym or other public space, with table after table of local parents selling only things for babies and kids. All items are quality-controlled, and range from newborn onesies to the largest adolescent sizes; from Boppies and blankets to car seats and double strollers; from See'n'Says to ride-on cars, playhouses and bikes. They also have books, videos and music.

Most of the PTAs have their sales twice a year, spring and fall. If you want to be a consignor, check with the organization. For Lakewood’s Baby Bargain Bonanza dates, check the Lakewood Early Childhood PTA’s event listing on their website at www.lecpta.com. Three other comprehensive web sites to check for all the upcoming sales in the area are www.westparkpta.org, www.alppta.org/home_files/Kids_Closet.htm and http://neohiokidsresale.googlepages.com/spring2009resaleevents.

Each year, in the spring, summer, fall and winter The Friends of Lakewood Public Library hold new and used Book Sales in the basement of the Main Branch of the Library. This is a great place to get new or gently used copies of books on parenting, magazines, and books for children of all ages. The book sale purchases are a crucial source of funding for Library programming. Go to www.lkwdpl.org/friends/ and check the listing on the right side of the page for upcoming book sale dates.

Once a year (typically late May/early June) Case Western Reserve (CASE) holds a tremendous book sale in the Adelbert Gymnasium on campus. Throughout each year more than 60,000 books are donated by Case Western Reserve faculty, staff, students and alumni as well as community members and corporations. Proceeds support the University's continuing education programs. In past years, beautiful hardbound copies of well-known children’s and young adult literature were available at very affordable prices, including some first editions, rare works and signed copies. For more information, visit www.case.edu/artsci/conted/booksale.htm.

Twice-annually the Friends of Cleveland Public Library also hold new and used Book Sales both in the Louis Stokes Wing at the Main Branch downtown, and a various smaller branches throughout the CPL network. For upcoming sale dates, check either the Cleveland Public Library home page at www.cpl.org/ (under Featured Events on the left hand side) or visit www.friendscpl.org/ (click on Special Events at the top and choose Book Sales).