Thank You, Deseret News!

A big Thank You to Wendy Leonard and Michelle Tessier of the Deseret News for the story you did on our soggy, but warm-and-fuzzy, free swap yesterday. (Truth be told, it brought me to tears.)

Here's the link: The Spirit of Helping: 'Take Whatever You Need'

Channel 4's Good Things Utah--On TV to Promote the SWAP

{me, Kerry F. and Good Things Utah hosts Nicea, Gretchen, and Troy--aren't they gorgeous?!}

Pant, pant . . . okay, my heart can slow down now and the butterflies will please vacate my stomach. We are done with all the pre-swap media promotions.

Thank you, thank you to Good Things Utah for inviting us to share what we love on your show. Thanks, so much, Megan Bowen, for extending the invitation; we appreciate your seeing the value in the swap. And a special thanks to Chris who got us hooked up with our microphones and for our post-show chat at the end. (You are a cheeky one, aren't you?)

Nicea, Gretchen and Troy are so good at their jobs. I tip my hat to you, folks. Really. Wow. That's tough work. Thank you for helping to amplify our voices. You made it fun. We were glad we could, for a brief while, be a part of your specialness (is that a word?!).

To watch our segment of the show click here.

Radio Promotion of the SWAP--Thanks to Dan Bammes of KUER

Thank you to Dan Bammes, Morning Edition Host/Reporter at KUER, for your interest in amplifying my voice and helping me share this community event I love so much.

For my first time in radio, I must express profuse gratitude for the miracle of editing.

You can catch the minute-long spot here.

A World of Thanks to the Faithful Free Swap Volunteers

{Pictured from L to R: Lisa H., Kathy M., Connie C., Roy S., Kerry F., and Julie S.--rock star volunteers!}

Looking at this picture (and no help from the sentimental music playing in the background right now) makes me all teary-eyed. For reals.

My friend and local free s:w.a.p. coordinator Kerry F. tagged me on a twitter post 6 minutes before the "doors" opened for the swap. The screen capture showed the time, a shiny yellow sun, and a temperature of . . . wait for it . . . 32 degrees! (That's 0 degrees for those in the world of Celsius) I believe there had been a dusting of snow that fell the day before. I told her that maybe we should re-brand the fall event as the Community FREEZE S:w.a.p.

Yet look at those devoted volunteers! Bundled up and warm smiles ready to serve the community members of Utah County. And despite the cold, Utah County showed up. Nearly 300 participants came to freely share with each other.

Dearest Volunteers, I am truly grateful for your generous spirits. This simply could not happen without you.

And thank you to Caleb Warnock at the Daily Herald. Newspaper seems to work well for the free swap participants. Read the article here: "Orem free swap returns on Saturday by popular demand"

If you are in Utah County and you missed this one, we will be back the first Saturday of June 2014. If you are not in the area, but are interested in this concept, give some thought to starting one in your community. If anyone else out there already does something like this, please share your stories and insights. Would love to hear from you.

Feature in Utah Valley Magazine

"Down to Earth Angels," by Britney Shiflet, can be seen at Utah Valley Magazine's website here.  It features folks in the region who are trying to make local (and global) community dreams come true.  Britney contacted me wanting to include the Community Free S:w.a.p. in the article.  Of course I said, yes, please, help us spread the word!

I was too far out of town for the photo shoot and interview so my amazing friend Kerry (who is--thankfully--carrying the torch during my absence) stepped in to represent the Community Free S:w.a.p.  Thanks, again, Kerry.

So grateful for the opportunity to share my vision with others.  And to be inspired by the other incredible people and stories in the article.

Thank you, Britney, for loving our story and sharing it with our extended community!

Free Swap Meet's Debut in the World of Media

It is the day before the Free Community Swap Meet.  I still have a few things on my To-Do list.  Sleep.  Eat.  Breathe.

Thanks to Cathy Free of the Deseret News for a listening, sympathetic ear and a focus on people and the amazing stories that abound.  Those stories are all around us.  She finds them and magnifies the voices of the everyday people who have something to say.  Her article can be found here.

Thanks to Caleb Warnock of the Daily Herald for swiftly assembling--and featuring on the front page--an article and picture that let my vision be broadcast to the Utah Valley community that will most benefit from this event.  His article can be found here.

And thanks to the crew (specifically producer Libby Mitchell) at the KSL Noon News show for inviting me to share a little bit of what I hope will be a growing trend 'round these parts and nationwide.

(Picture: me with KSL anchor Scott Haws in the studio.)