Friday, August 7, 2015

June 2015 Report!


Rockstar set-up crew (minus one or two camera-shy rockstars)

Well, my dear Free SWAP partner, Kerry, was off in New York at a work conference during the opening swap. I was going to miss her; and she was going to miss out on all the fun here. But I had all kinds of volunteers show up to help out; it was fantastic! Again, we had volunteers I knew--long-time friends and neighbors of mine--and volunteers I just met. (The volunteer at the left of the photo organizes swaps as well--I believe in Provo somewhere--so it was fun to meet her and have her energy and set-up skills. *I was hoping to get your contact information before you left, but we were all so busy the whole time, that I looked around for you and you had gone. Contact me--would love to chat more about free swaps.*) 

Before the swap even got started we had a lot of donations. 


The park grounds crew wanted to wash down the tables for us before we got started so we piled up the donations off to the side and visited with each other before all the excitement kicked off.


Right out of the gate we started with a hearty outdoor recreation inventory. 

Doors opened.


It always amazes me how many donations come and go during the course of each free swap.


Flash-mob of sharing and community togetherness. Love it.


 We had a couple of signs printed up to facilitate the flow in the parking lot.


In the past interested passersby, upon seeing the packed parking lot, would simply leave. This sign, we hope, says, "Don't leave! There's room for more! Come play with us."


Here a patron happily--and comfortably--waited for the truck that would take that futon couch on to new adventures.


Sweetest new volunteer Lili--she was delightful and a hardworking advocate for this little swap. 
(*Loved meeting you!*)


Headquarters


Strangers--met in the parking lot--worked together to share a couch with someone new.

Because we love the swap so much Kerry and I like to brainstorm new ways to spread the word not only about our local events, but about the entire concept. This year we invited local photographer Joy C. to take portraits of happy customers eager to share their stories. These portraits we will use to further the cause. More on that to come...


Young Nathaniel, a veteran volunteer (an umbrella escort at the fall 2014 free swap), was a super helper on this balloon project.


My dear, dear friend Kelly--our friendship is over thirty years old. (How that's possible when we're both only 25?! hmm...) We both grew up 2 states away so the fact that we now live a 20-minute drive from each other is pretty incredible.


Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feedback, folks.


Fantastic clean-up crew (minus a few more camera-shy helpers) made quick work of everything. I blinked and all was packed up. Thank you, thank you!!

It was a beautiful day for sharing within the community.


Next Free SWAP: Saturday, August 15th, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Wines Park in Lehi, UT.


Big "Thank You"s to (it really goes so fast and furious that my brain doesn't always compute everyone who might have helped out--for that I am sorry):

Kim B., for the new logo you designed for us (will share more on that in another post--we are excited about having a logo to further the cause); my oldest child, for watching your little sister; my middle child, for being a super awesome helper from start to finish; Jeff B. and Amanda S., for your help on all the Spanish language translations (more on that in another post); Joy C., for being the promotional portrait photographer (looking forward to more on that project); the Toblers, Paula W., the Wilkinsons, the Wayases for packing your cars with, and transporting, all the donations that the neighborhood had collected; Lili, for your cheerful volunteerism; Sarah C., for helping to set up the canopy in the morning (so needed!); Paula W., for helping with set-up and letting my children at home come play at your house; Wilkinsons, for set-up help AND clean-up help!; Roy S., for making time to volunteer a bit even though you had a conflicting event; the Greens, for your lightning-fast clean-up skills, Abby R., for your steady help every free swap; Mystery Woman (who also does free swaps in Provo), for your hard work and experience; Rebecca (with your little one in the stroller), for offering to transport leftover donations to the thrift store; Nathaniel, for being the balloon-design coordinator and eagerly helping out; and Kay J., for helping with set-up (which is what I feel I need the most for a successful swap)

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