WATERLOO - Looking for free camping gear? A sturdy high chair?

Willing to part with that green checkered sofa that, while in good condition, doesn't match anything in the house?

Cedar Valley residents are invited to participate in a Free-4-All stuff exchange from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Hope Martin Park. The park is on Fletcher Avenue between University Avenue and U.S. Highway 63.

There's no telling what treasures might show up but the more people that participate, the better the pickings, said organizer Catrina Howard. To her knowledge, the Free-4-All Earth Day exchange is a first-ever event for the Cedar Valley.

The Waterloo, Iowa Freecycle Network, or waterloofreecycle, will host the event. Waterloofreecycle is a Black Hawk County chapter of a worldwide, online recycling group, headed by Howard. People do not need to be a member of waterloofreecycle to participate on Saturday.

"I'm hoping it is going to be big," Howard said. "I'm really hoping it is catching on."

Howard said the Free-4-All is the perfect motivation to get a move on spring cleaning. Items offered should still be usable. Hazardous materials, car seats, appliances, tires and animals are not permitted.

No money is allowed to change hands and participants aren't required to literally trade.

"I think it could benefit a lot of people," Howard said.

The mission of waterloofreecycle, formed in May 2004, is to reduce waste by providing an alternative to sending usable items to the landfill. The group connects both individuals and charities.

Waterloofreecycle is a great way to save money and find items not readily available in stores, Howard said. She and her family once acquired more than 100 bricks for a landscaping project. Another time, Howard used the site to look for snowpants for her daughter when stores were sold out.

Members on waterloofreecycle also started a traveling treasure box and a traveling plant box.

The group counts more than 1,100 members.

At Saturday's Free-4-All, volunteers will display items dropped off. Participants do not need to bring items to take items. Unclaimed items after Saturday's event will be offered to designated Cedar Valley nonprofit organizations, Howard said.

Registration is not required. People with stuff can just show up.

"Nothing will go to waste if I can help it," Howard said.

The Iowa Recycling Association also is sponsoring Saturday's event.

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Need to Know

What: An Earth Day Free for All. The stuff exchange hosted by Waterloo Freecycle, a Black Hawk County chapter of a global, online exchange group. The public is invited to bring items that are still usable. Items banned from the Free-4-All are hazardous materials, car seats, appliances, tires

and animals.

When: noon to 4 p.m. Saturday

Where: Hope Martin Park in Waterloo

To join the Waterloo, Iowa Freecycle Network, go to www.yahoo.com and click on the groups link. Then search under the words waterloofreecycle.

Contact Karen Heinselman at (319) 291-1581 or karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.