Get Twoshirts Started In Your Area!
Twoshirts is a grass-roots community of generosity, which means anyone can join and start a Twoshirts community where they live. You don't need permission or approval; just register for your free membership and start posting items. As soon as you post something, your state will appear in the directory.

The more people are involved, the more effective Twoshirts will be. So the best way to make an impact in your area is to get others involved with you. Here are a few suggestions for cultivating a community of generosity in your area:

1. Rally a Group
Twoshirts.org works best when there's a strong core group of people committed to living a life of open generosity. Do you know people who are interested in making a difference? Get them together and introduce them to the Twoshirts mission. Here are a few suggestions:

• Send invitations: You can send an e-mail invitation to everyone you know using the "Invite Your Friends" feature in your My Twoshirts Menu.

• Have a Party: Remember those Tupperware parties in the 70's? Have a Twoshirts party instead! Invite people to come to your home for a party where you'll introduce them to the Twoshirts.org mission.
• Start a Twoshirts Group: We've created Twoshirts Groups to help you and your friends make a difference. Invite people to join your Group and use it to plan and organize local outreaches and projects to help the poor in your area.

2. Build Inventory:
When you invite new people to check out Twoshirts.org they'll respond best if there's already a good amount of postings in your area, so get your core group to commit to posting as many items as possible. Here are a few ideas that have worked for us:

• Set goals: For example, if just ten people agree to post at least ten items then you'll be up to 100 free items in your area very quickly. Or, set a goal for a certain amount in one month. In Columbus we set a goal for 1000 items in a month, and reached 700. Not bad, but perhaps you and your friends could beat that!
• Set the pace: If you're the person spearheading the effort, set an example by posting lots of good free items. People will notice and follow suit.
• Receive as well as give: Don't forget that Twoshirts is about creating an inclusive economy of generosity in which everyone participates. That means receiving is just as important as giving. If you see someone post items that nobody claims, make the effort to claim something in order to include them. No economy of generosity will work without mutual give and take.

3. Get Involved in Your Community:

• Spread the word: Now that you have a core group, and a strong inventory of FREE items, hit the streets with the Twoshirts.org message! Post links in locally-rooted discussion forums, tell your neighbors and co-workers. Be creative! If you write to us and ask we'll even send you a handful of free Twoshirts business cards.
• Get involved with a local non-profit: Is there a local non-profit in your area that seeks to impact poverty? Whether it's a church, local soup kitchen, or adult education program, we'd love to see you and your group get involved. Twoshirts is ultimately about making a difference in the lives of the poor. We believe that practicing generosity everyday will help overcome the inequalities of our world. So jump in and make a difference!
• Tell us about it: Let us know about the local organizations in your area that are making a difference. Every month we'll spotlight a different non-profit whose mission involves impacting poverty in the world in order to raise awareness of their efforts. You can be part of that effort by telling us about them.

Of course, you can't do any of this unless you're a member, so hurry up and get registered!