Thursday, August 27, 2026 / Eugene
The school-supply swap asks for one thing before you take one
MECCA's first back-to-school swap runs Friday and Saturday, and ordinary entry means bringing at least one usable item.
MECCA's first back-to-school supply swap has a simple rule: bring at least one new or good-condition secondhand item, then take what your household needs responsibly. The Materials Exchange Center for the Community Arts is collecting the pencils, paper, markers and other useful things that tend to become a surprisingly expensive pile at the end of summer.
The swap runs noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at 555 High Street in Eugene. MECCA also gave advance tickets to some people who donated earlier, an accommodation for families whose transportation may not line up neatly with the weekend schedule.
The event is advertised as free, but it is a swap rather than an unrestricted giveaway. The bring-one-item rule is the small hinge the whole thing turns on.
Field notes
What changed: MECCA added its first back-to-school supply swap to its regular reuse events.
Why it matters: It offers a lower-cost way to assemble school supplies while keeping usable materials out of the waste stream.
Who may be affected: Lane County families and other residents with school supplies to exchange or a need for usable materials.