Shreveport

1stFriday.com, Inc. announces a new service to promote charitable giving within local Black communities.  “Keep it in the Community” groups allow African-Americans in local markets to post online details of donations of used items (e.g. - books, children’s toys, baby items, clothing, electronic equipment, furniture).   Charities, schools, families, non-profit organizations and individuals can respond to the posts and make arrangement for the pick-up and delivery of the items.

“We know that upper and middle-class African-Americans want to give back to their communities.  Oftentimes, these individuals and families have used goods that they want to give to Black churches, non-profits, schools, and individuals that have needs, but they don’t have an easy means to reach them.  We hope ‘Keep it in the Community’ groups become the standard platform for the recycling of high-quality, used items within the US Black community.  I'm particularly excited about the potential of getting used computers, smartphones, and electronic equipment into schools and other organizations that serve inner-city children,” said Jay Ward, CEO of 1stFriday.com, Inc.

New users can find “Keep it in the Community” groups on the Connections section of the 1stfriday.com website  or visiting www.1stfriday.com/connections.  Connections is the social and professional networking platform for the First Fridays community – a community of aspirational African-Americans that participate in networking events that occur across the United States in over 30 different markets.  Connections is powered by Leverage Software, Inc.,  a San Francisco-based provider of community building technologies and software.

By logging into Connections and creating a profile, users can join a number of groups that are available to Connections members. In addition to “Keep it in the Community” groups, Connections members can join local African-American communities of single parents, fashionistas, skiers, and arts & culture fans, as well as professional groups such as doctors, lawyers and government workers.   Joining Connections is free.

Currently, “Keep it in the Community” groups are available in the San Francisco Bay Area, Dallas, Denver, and Portland markets.  However, 1stFriday.com intends to promote new groups across the country throughout the rest of 2010.  “The potential for expansion is tremendous.  We believe that any market with a critical mass of African-Americans can support a “Keep it in the Community” Connections group.  We’re looking forward to helping the numerous non-profits, churches, schools and individuals in the Black community that can use the items donated through the platform,” said Daryle Whyte, co-founder of First Fridays of the Bay Area.