In 1998, Carolyn Gillis found herself looking at an expensive Boston Trader’s sweater her young son had never worn. It was a nice sweater, and she didn’t want to throw it away.
It occurred to her that she should advertise the sweater and donate part of the proceeds to the 2,173-student Falmouth, Maine, school district.
But after printing three editions of a newsletter to advertise unwanted items, she decided that virtual advertising was better than print. That’s when classroomclassified.com was born.
The site, launched in June, offers free ads for sellers who agree to donate a portion of their sales to help local schools. The site has listed pianos, rental properties, rugs, furniture, and even cars. Ms. Gillis hopes that the program will spread to other states.
“It is a tool,” she said. “It is what the community makes of it.”
—Marianne D. Hurst
