Saturday, residents can show up with something they don’t need, and leave with something they do, and it’s all completely free.

Kayla Cole and Gabe Albaneese, two Washington residents, brought the Really Really Free Market, an international movement, to Beaufort County.

“The idea is that everybody has something. Everyone has something that they can give. Everybody has something that they are looking for. An item that they need, a service that they need, or maybe something that they want to learn,” Cole said. “The free market, that is a place that can happen.”

The Really Really Free Market has taken place across North Carolina for about 12 years, according to Albaneese, and the biggest ones are located in Greenville and Carrboro. The two brought it to Washington, in the hope of creating a community-building event, and it will be held the first Saturday of each month. Saturday’s market marks the second one in Washington. Residents are asked to bring items they don’t need to give away to the public.

“It allows us to spend an afternoon just taking care of one another. You can bring stuff and give it away for free and connect people. Spend a day where we are not putting money between us and also, meeting the people that live on your block,” Albaneese said.

Cole said the community is also invited to come to the market and share a skill, hobby or service. At markets in other locations, Cole has seen some residents give music lessons, yoga sessions or haircuts. Once, a barista even came out and served free coffee. It is all part of their goal to make it a place to connect others.

Those interested in performing can just show up on Saturday, or they can contact Cole to let her know. Those interested in providing items to be given away are asked to bring them to the event and participate, instead of just dropping stuff off and leaving.

“We’d rather have the person than the stuff. We’re not making it about the stuff,” Albaneese said.

“When you are paying somebody for a service. We don’t really know those people. It’s sort of an alienating process. It’s trying to bring it back to community,” Cole added.

Albaneese said the idea to bring the market to Washington sparked because he saw many visitors at the Greenville market traveling many miles — some from Kinston, Williamston, New Bern and even Washington — and he wanted to offer resources at a closer venue.

He said it’s not supposed to be a “charity,” rather a give-and-take process.

The Really Really Free Market is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bug House Park, on the corner of Second and Charlotte streets in Washington. To contact the free market, email reallyfreemarket.lw@gmail.com.