Free SWAP Lehi--Tomorrow!

Saturday, August 15th

8:00 a.m. to noon

Wines Park, Southeast Pavilion 

100 E 500 N, Lehi

Lehi Main Street exit from I-15

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Volunteers are welcome to help set up starting at 6:30 a.m., taking and sorting donations during the event, and with clean-up starting at noon. Call your friends--make it a fun group activity. 

*Volunteers can also shop while working.*

Introducing the Free SWAP Logo Design

Earlier this year we were approached by artist/designer Kim Bateman (my brother-in-law) with his proposal to design a logo for the Free SWAP. Kerry and I heartily welcomed the idea. We knew that creating a brand identity could greatly further our efforts to spread the message of community sharing.

It was a very interesting process, to say the least. He met with both me and Kerry to ask us about how we came to be involved in this idea of the Free SWAP, about our values and interests and where we find inspiration. This is important for a designer to know his client so he can tailor design choices. Otherwise he could take a logo in a million different directions and still not find what speaks to the client.

Interviews done, he started sketching up pages and pages of ideas--from bold and graphic to fluid and organic, from text-based to image-based. It was all so fascinating to see the process unfold and see the diversity of logos he came up with.

We wanted to include so many concepts in the design but we knew we wanted to keep it fairly uncluttered. Symbolism, colors, shapes all have meaning when create a brand identity--we talked a lot. 

It was very much a collaborative effort (all the adults and even some suggestions from some of my kids) and in the end this (above) is where we all landed. We are very happy with the results.

• The symbolism of circles supports the idea of both community (circle of friends, circle of influence, circling the wagons--Utah pioneers know about that, for sure) and also the planet earth. 
• The hands forming the "S" reinforce the concept of sharing--giving and receiving. So the hands can be seen both as sharing an item and as cradling the planet.
• Green is often associated with the environment and with prosperity--both concepts that fit well with the Free SWAP philosophy.
• If you look at the hands upside down they look like stylized half-arrows which hint at the well-established recycling logo. 

We have registered our trademark with the State of Utah and everything. We are official. Now for incorporating it into our work.

Aside from this blog, our latest printing of business cards (in English and Spanish) and our Facebook page also feature the new logo. Yet to come are vinyl signs to be used at SWAPs and for promotion at farmers markets.

Thank you, Kim, for your experience, your professional, courteous nature and your creativity. It was a pleasure to work with you and we are delighted with your design.

If you are interested in seeing more of Kim Bateman's work or to contact him, please visit: 

http://kimbatemanportfolio.blogspot.com/

Promoting the Lehi SWAP at the Wasatch Front Farmers Market

{Our little helper demonstrated the concept of Free SWAP by handing out free suckers. 

She loved her job; and was very good at it}

Since we're opening up our first "franchise" this year--in Lehi, Utah--we thought the Wasatch Front Farmers Market (Thanksgiving Point location) would be a great choice for promoting the upcoming swap.

Lovely day to be out talking with folks. Pleasant booth neighbors. Yummy food from the Taiwanese place across the way. And Kerry and I both went home with luscious fresh produce to boot. (We'll see if enough berries survive long enough to be turned into a pastry; I keep eating them.)

{our booth--homegrown fun with a couple of women who love to do this}

{Kerry with the finished set-up}

 Some of the things we heard today: 

"I have about 8 bags of clothes that I've been meaning to take to the thrift store." 

"We just bought a new couch and now the old couch is just sitting there in the garage."

"We have *so* much stuff."

"We have a dryer we could give away."

Perfect. Bring it on down to the Free SWAP next Saturday!

Saturday, August 15th

8:00 a.m. to noon

Wines Park, Lehi, 100 E 500 N

(Main Street, Lehi exit from I-15)

{Kerry and the Sugar Dealer in action}

Thanks, Wasatch Front Farmers Market, for letting us join the gang this week! And to the folks we chatted with today, hope to see you Saturday!

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)

June SWAP Coming Up!

Free SWAP

Sharing . We . All  . Prosper

Saturday, June 6th, 8:00 a.m. to noon

Orem City Center Park, Rotary Pavilion

Donations are welcome—from furniture and home décor to sporting equipment

and winter gear. (Please limit donations to items that can be carried by one or

two people; nothing that needs special moving equipment—i.e. dollies for

refrigerators, etc.) Simply drop off donations any time during the free swap and

then stay and browse the rest of the selection for anything that you could

use. Items not taken by end of day will be donated to a thrift store.

NOTE: There is *no* requirement to donate to benefit from the offerings

—please take what you can use.

Food donations are also welcome and will be delivered to the Food Bank in Provo.

For more info see:

http://freeswap.info

Facebook group: Community FREE S:W.A.P. (Sharing: We All Prosper) - Utah County

Pass the word along digitally or the old-fashioned way with these downloadable flyers:

Free Swap Flyer June 2015--English

Free Swap Flyer June 2015--Spanish

Print them out and post them up at work, church, favorite shop (with permission), etc.

Interested in volunteering? We love volunteers. Simply come to the event and we'll put you to work for as long as you can join us. You do not have to commit to 4 hours of work. Even if you've only got 15 minutes, we would love your help. Thank you, thank you!

(We can use special help setting up around 6:30 or cleaning up at noon.)

Feel free to ask questions at:

desertgreengoddess (at) gmail (dot) com

Fall Free SWAP Report

Guess what? It rained.

(This is why I reserve the pavilion every time. It's worth it to me to know that we will have protection in case of inclement weather.)

But, people came! Delightful new volunteers (like Ericka and Eva, in group photo above) joined veteran volunteers (I'm looking at you, Roy and Jill, in group photo above) in a soggy, but satisfying, day of service.

{Kerry out in the rain at the start of the swap. I think she was posting a notice online that we were, indeed, still holding the swap despite the rain.}

The rain made quick work of some of our beloved cardboard signs that we have used over the past several swaps. They disintegrated before our eyes, poor things. (To do: print more business cards in English and Spanish, and order new signs!)

Some of our younger volunteers eagerly took on their assignments as umbrella escorts. They took turns walking participants to and from the SWAP using a generously-sized golf umbrella.

Fortunately we had some decent stretches of time when the rain let up. Some of the things that came and went included a few TVs, some skis, industrial power vacuum, instrument cases, gun cases, toys, clothes, and kitchen ware.

One gentleman came with his trailer fully-laden with construction equipment, tools, gas cans, a ladder and a bunch of stuff I couldn't identify. It was a handyman's--or handyma'am's--trove of well-loved goods. Story was* the man's neighbor, a widow of 5 years, had a garage full of her husband's things that were sitting, untouched, unused. This man helped his neighbor clean out her garage and offered to load up his trailer and bring the load down to the SWAP to see if others could put those tools back to good use. It was like Santa with his sleigh. And most of that stuff was snatched right up, ready to start new adventures.

{there he is in the white shirt behind the trailer--bless you, good sir}

{couch and armchair--yup, you can bet those got taken}

{Hey, there's my dad helping to bring in another donation. It sure was a treat to have my parents in town that weekend!}

New volunteer Suzan took it upon herself to donate her truck and her driving to help anyone take large loads home--like the couch. She had spent years driving delivery vehicles for Deseret Industries.(D.I. stores are LDS/Mormon Church-based thrift stores) Now she wanted to drive for us. Bless her. In the end we used her truck to load up all the unclaimed items for delivery to the local thrift store. I'm just going to try to forget, though, how it poured buckets and buckets as we were cleaning up and loading the truck. Seriously. Buckets, folks. Really not the best circumstances. But, hey, we survived to do it all again another day.

{heaven-sent Suzan (wearing the hat) and her truck}

We are always interested in hearing about people's experiences--what they brought, what they found, why they came, etc. The rain made it difficult for people to linger and chat and leave comments/feedback, but we got a few responses. Glad to hear that folks found things they could use. 

We had quite a few food bank donations. We take the food donations to the Community Action Services and Food Bank in our sister city of Provo. Community Action serves people throughout the county.

{delivering your donations--thanks, folks!}

By the end of the event we had counted approximately 450 participants. Considering the rain, I count that a roaring success, indeed!

I've got to tell you: this really is a great "job." Kerry and I get to witness such generosity within the community. And such gracious receiving. And such devoted volunteers. It's a pretty good gig. I highly recommend it. 

You should do one in your area. ;)

Just wanted to give a special shout-out to rock star volunteer Ericka. She was new this year. She came right at the beginning and stayed and worked hard the entire time, all through clean-up. (Her brother and son also joined the crew.) She passed out our business card reminders to everyone she met and, as a native Spanish-speaker, proved very valuable to our team. Thank you so much, Ericka!

*The swift nature of the swap means that I usually don't have time to grab my pen and paper and get down all the details exactly as they are told me. This is my attempt at a best-guess remembrance of the story.

NOTE: I did not expressly receive permission to identify the people I discuss here. That is why I use only first names. If you see yourself in a photo and/or I have written your name and you would like me to remove it, please email me: desertgreengoddess (at) gmail (dot) com. Our paths cross so briefly and a little chaotically, that I forget to ask publication permission. But I find such value in your participation, in your stories, that I can't help but want to share. Nonetheless, I will respect your request to remove your name and image, if you wish it.

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'