The Clarksburg SWAP: Where Generosity Builds Community
Twice a year, something remarkable happens in Clarksburg. What starts as a parking lot full of cars—loaded down with boxes of good but no-longer-needed items—turns into a living picture of what generosity can do in a neighborhood. This fall, the Clarksburg SWAP is back, and you’re invited to be part of it.
Here’s how it works:
Drop-off times: Wednesday, October 8th, and Friday, October 10th, from 5–7pm.
SWAP event: Saturday, October 11th, from 10am–12pm at The Yard (22820 Frederick Road).
On drop-off nights, the parking lot comes alive. Cars pull in and unload bags of kid’s clothes, women’s shoes, strollers, kitchen gadgets, books, and more. Within an hour, what looks like a jumble of stuff transforms into organized piles, thanks to volunteers—including students serving their SSL hours—who make sure everything is ready to find a new home.
By Saturday morning, the excitement is building. Volunteers arrive at 8am to set up in the grassy area of The Yard. Tables fill, items are sorted, and people begin lining up early, eager to see what treasures await. From the outside, it looks like a yard sale—except for one key difference: everything is free.
Why free? Because the SWAP is about more than stuff. It’s about generosity.
When we live in generous communities, something powerful happens: we begin to see the world as a place of abundance rather than scarcity. We discover that our extra can meet someone else’s need. And in the process, we become better neighbors—people who trust, support, and care for one another. Generosity builds social bonds that make our neighborhoods stronger and more joyful places to live.
Over the past eight years, the Clarksburg SWAP has grown into a tradition. Many families even keep a “swap box” in their home year-round, dropping in items as kids outgrow clothes or as household needs change. Then, come swap week, they bring their box to share. It’s a simple rhythm of giving and receiving that strengthens our community.
And nothing goes to waste. Items left at the end of the SWAP are first shared with Clarksburg Closet, who often request much-needed seasonal items or men’s shoes. Everything else is picked up by GreenDrop, a for-profit organization that supports nonprofits by turning your donations into funding for local programs.
So whether you’re looking to declutter, discover something new, or simply take part in an inspiring act of community generosity, the Clarksburg SWAP is for you.
Mark your calendars:
Drop-offs: October 8th & 10th, 5–7pm
SWAP Day: October 11th, 10am–12pm
Come join us. Bring what you can. Take what you need. And together, let’s build a more generous Clarksburg.