The Really Really Free Market Returns to McGraw Today!

Matt Brooks: [00:00:00] Good morning. I’m Matt Brooks on X 1 0 1, always classic in for another edition of Meet Cortland County. Joining me in the studio today, Nicole Lener, a teacher from McGraw High School. Now later on this morning, starting at 10 o’clock on until two, the really, really free market at McGraw Junior, senior High School, gymnasium Nicole.

Good morning. First off, and can you tell me about the, the really, really free market? What’s it all about?

Nicole Lener: Good morning, Matt. The really, really free market, started as, concepts I believe in the West coast, to promote sustainability and the reuse of items to reduce waste and landfills. My students started, this event.

Probably around 15 years ago, they were involved in a national environmental competition, called the Lexus Eco Challenge, where our job was to try to educate the community on sustainability and the reduction of climate change. As a result of that, we started to research. [00:01:00] We found this was something that looked interesting to us, and we did our first one again, probably it was definitely over a decade ago.

Matt Brooks: Wow. It’s amazing to hear that. I mean, I’ve done high school projects before. Usually you do it the one year and you, you wrap it up, call a day. The fact that it’s been almost 15 years Yes. That, that this keeps going as an annual thing. Now a really relief free market. Can you explain to me what that is?

I mean. My assumption is everything’s free.

Nicole Lener: Yeah. So everything is free, and the main objective is to advocate for reuse. So we’re hoping to get some people out of their comfort zone, who wouldn’t normally be into the fact that, you know, this is a sweatshirt that someone else owned. It’s for everybody.

Yeah, it’s for, it’s for everyone. So now what

Matt Brooks: are some of the popular items? ’cause I mean, it is officially December. Yes. It’s holiday season. We were talking about before we went on, Mike, that some of the popular items are, holiday decorations. Yeah. What are [00:02:00] some of the things that are really popular?

Yeah.

Nicole Lener: So definitely considering the fact that. The first Saturday in December, holiday decorations are usually the first to go Christmas lights, Christmas tree ornaments, decor that goes around the household. And also toys. Toys are, are really big. And I think probably also due to the fact that it’s.

Prior to the holidays, but kids come to the market and they scoop them up.

Matt Brooks: Yeah, no, that when, when you, with the combination of just everything that’s there and being free, I mean, things go quick.

Nicole Lener: Yeah. And I think that’s not a concept that people are generally used to. They will come in, they’ll wanna make a donation of monetary value.

You can come and bring nothing. You don’t, you don’t have to contribute or donate. The, the, one of the other big parts of this is. Community outreach, Hey, I’m done with this item and if you could get use out of it, please do.

Matt Brooks: And I know it’s the day of, so it’s a little close to the deadline, but if somebody has something that would [00:03:00] be a good donation.

What, what would make a good donation? Are you still accepting?

Nicole Lener: Yeah. Really, any. Holds decor, dishes, clothing, that goes really quickly. Electronics, a lot of people don’t know what to do with their old DVDs or even VHS tapes, people still use those and are looking for them.

Absolutely.

Matt Brooks: Start, start a. Dusting off the betta maxes and Absolutely.

Nicole Lener: Yes, absolutely. CDs even yeah. Yeah. So ob a lot of things that people would otherwise say, what am I gonna do with this? It’s kind of outdated. You would be surprised.

Matt Brooks: Yeah. Things that have, that are perfectly still usable. Yes. But are maybe just picking up dust and such.

Yeah.

Nicole Lener: So we’re looking basically are, I don’t wanna say our rules, but our guidelines basically are. Nothing huge. Nothing dangerous and nothing broken or dirty. So those are the guidelines

Matt Brooks: and those are easy enough to follow again. Yep. You’re still accepting donations the day of. Yes. Just bring ’em right in.

Absolutely. Yep. And we’ll have

Nicole Lener: students that will help you to assist you. Yep. And

Matt Brooks: for, I mean for future ones. ’cause there be [00:04:00] another one next year. Yeah. Yep. What would be the best, if for more information? Try to get a, get ahold of you. Yeah. For future markets. So I’m

Nicole Lener: at, McGraw High School, so you can just call the high school and, ask for Nicole Lener, and I can, I can guide you from there.

Matt Brooks: Again, this is for the really. Free market starting at 10 o’clock this morning at the McGraw Junior Senior high school gym going on until two o’clock this afternoon. Everything is free. Get a kickstart to the holidays while also doing something that helps the environment. Absolutely. Nicole, thank you for joining me this morning.

Nicole Lener: You’re welcome, Matt. Thank you.

Matt Brooks: It’s been another edition. I meet Courtney County. You’re on X 1 0 1 Oh. Ways Classic. I’m Matt Brooks.