Who we are and what we're about:

FreeRC is a community project of the First Christian Reformed Church of Vancouver. FreeRC hopes to gather people interested in exploring how to justly participate in current economic and social structures in ways animated by an overarching vision of the Kingdom of God. In particular, we are looking at the structures of trade and consumption, asking how we may find alternatives to the injustices and dangers that exist within them.

Our questioning has spawned two initiatives. The first is a sustainable living group, in which we share ideas on how to live simply, generously and justly as stewards of the earth. Key elements of this group include gardening and a bulk food buying practice, where local, low impact, and fair trade foods are bought in bulk to allow easier access at less of a financial burden. Email Joel at jp242 'at' hotmail.com for more details about this group.

The second initiative is the beginning of an alternative system of trade, where we facilitate simple giving and lending of our individual surplus. Not only does this initiative bring people together, it also allows us to appreciate in greater depth the gifts and skills of those around us. Our hope is that less will be produced, consumed, and transported (even among our small community), which in itself can act as a statement against our current economic system and practices. Our hope with this initiative is to provide an alternative for people in need of something, while also connecting those with abundance to those in need (Acts 2).

How this works:

It's simple! We're using the Lendlist website as a framework to list and track our giving and lending - but with a bigger scope. Sign up on Lendlist with a personal account using a name and email that people can recognize and contact you with. Then, begin adding the things you want to lend and give away, including food, skills, and so on, assigning them the appropriate categories (and even things on your "wanted" list!). Then, add "FreeRC" to your groups, and see what other people are sharing. Start lending (you'll get emails from people when they'd like something you've got), and invite other friends of this community to join!

See FreeRC for more details