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.

Fall Free S:w.a.p. Coming Up! Spread the News and/or Come Volunteer

A common question at the last event was, "When's the next one?"  Well, folks, it's just about time for another one: Saturday, September 28.

{Volunteers wanted--see below--trust me, it's such a feel-good community event, you'll love being a part of it.}

The fall swap is particularly great for sharing winter gear (especially children's coats, boots, etc.)--families are getting the seasonal clothes out of storage and discovering that the children have out-grown some things. Another thing to keep in mind is possible gift "shopping" for Christmas (or birthdays, etc.)

Below are the details.  Feel free to pass this around electronically (email, facebook, twitter, blogs) or print out the information and post it up at work or church or where you like to shop or play.  Remember to get permission first, though.  ;)

c  o  m  m  u  n  i  t  y
F  R  E  E     S : W . A . P .

s h a r i n g  :  w e . a l l . p r o s p e r .

for everyone and anyone

Saturday, September 28, 2013

9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Orem City Center Park—Rotary Pavilion

North side of Center St. midway between State St. & 400 E.

It’s like a yard sale where everything is free.  Clear out clutter, pass along items you no longer need.   Item donations are welcome—from furniture to home décor to sporting equipment.  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.—unless you can assume responsibility for transport to its new home.  Simply bring items to the community free s:w.a.p. and then stay and browse the rest of the selection for anything that you could use. 

Note: NO DONATION REQUIRED; feel free to take what you can use.

There will also be a collection bin for any food bank items guests wish to bring which will later be delivered to the community Food Bank in Provo.

Volunteers wanted.  Email desertgreengoddess {at} gmail {dot} com.

Any other questions can be emailed to above address.

{sponsored by desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com}

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!

Thank You Free S:w.a.p. Team Back Home!

Well, I couldn't be there in person this time, but I had a chat with my friend and local free swap coordinator Kerry F. to get the preliminary report.  I was pleased to hear that "When's the next one?" was a common question.  People liked it.  They want more.

Kerry and I talked over some ideas to keep building awareness and participation.  As time goes on and we maintain a regular schedule (first Saturday in June and last Saturday in September), the community will come to anticipate and eagerly prepare for these free swap events.

Thank you to all the volunteers who worked hard to set up, organize donations, and clean up afterward.  This would be so much more difficult (and, frankly, much less fun) without your help. Thank you for being a part of the free swap family in our community.  We hope you can join us again at a future event.  Bless you for your service.

Summer Free S:w.a.p. Coming Up!

{Image from the talented Heather Ellis Photography}

When I learned that we were going to be moving to Singapore, one of the first questions that came to mind was: how can I keep the free swap events going?

I asked a friend of mine if she wouldn’t mind being my local deputy.  Thank you, thank you, Kerry F., for your willingness and talents, for helping me keep one of my dreams going.  I definitely owe you one!

Below are the details.  Feel free to pass this around electronically or print out the information and post it up at work or church or where you like to shop or play.  Remember to get permission first, though.  ;)

c o m m u n i t y   f r e e   s : w . a . p .

for everyone and anyone

Saturday, June 1, 2013

8:00 am to 12:00 noon

Orem City Center Park—Rotary Pavilion

North side of Center St. midway between State St. & 400 E.

It’s like a yard sale where everything is free.  Clear out clutter, pass along items you no longer need.   Item donations are welcome—from furniture to home décor to sporting equipment.  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.—unless you can assume responsibility for transport to its new home.  Simply bring items to the community free s:w.a.p. and then stay and browse the rest of the selection for anything that you could use. 

Note: NO DONATION REQUIRED; feel free to take what you can use.

There will also be a collection bin for any food bank items guests wish to bring which will later be delivered to the community Food Bank in Provo.

Volunteers wanted.  Email desertgreengoddess@gmail.com.

Any other questions can be emailed to above address.

s h a r i n g  :  w e . a l l . p r o s p e r .

Fall Free S:w.a.p. Report

Here are a few stories as recounted by some volunteers:

L.M. says: “I think one of my favorite moments (R’s too [husband and fellow volunteer]--he couldn't get over it) was that we had brought our double tandem stroller along with other baby and furniture and stuff. I BARELY got it set up (put the front seat on) when a young family came over with their tandem stroller and four small children. They started asking me about it. I told them how to make it work, how the seat reversed, etc., and with big smiles, they asked if they could have it. They moved their children over to it, leaving their own stroller, and continued around the swap, finding other good deals, noticeably excited about their upgrade. Meanwhile, another family came over to their old stroller and scooped it up with the small children they had in tow. It was amazing how quickly things went, and how happy people seemed to be in getting such treasures.”

E. B. says: “A few highlights for me: First, I noticed a woman grabbing all of the sewing patterns so when I was putting away another box of donated items and saw there was another pattern I went looking for her. When I gave it to her I seriously thought she was going to hug me. She was pretty happy.

Second, someone donated a newspaper special issue on the Billings, MT [LDS/Mormon] temple. I thought that was funny that someone didn't just toss that in their recycling bin. But, I actually took it home! That is my home town and as a teenager I did a lot of petitioning to get that temple built there. I was excited to read about it even though it was written 14 years ago! You never know what will be a treasure to someone else.

Count on me and my girls helping next year!”

For the rest of the account, including pictures, go here.

Next post: report on a hiccup involving an angry mention of possible report to the police.  Shameful tease, I know, but for someone as blandly law-abiding as I am (well, I have been to traffic school . . .) it was a little jarring.

Stories: Strangers Connecting Over Free Stuff

After the last Free Swap, I noticed that another blogger (previously unknown to me) had linked to my blog.  I was curious about the connection and so I checked it out.  Over at burlapanddenim.com I was surprised and delighted by what I found.

Amanda of Burlap and Denim is a talented interior designer/stylist.  She can put a creative spin on anything she may have on hand or find on her journey.  The post that included the link to my blog was all about a re-do on an item that she found—for free—at the Orem Free Swap in June.  She turned a tattered cloth backpack into a decorative pillow for her son’s surfer-themed bedroom.  Read it here.

At first reading, I was pleased that she came, participated and found something that she could use.  That was the whole idea.  Then as I kept reading I noticed that the subject of the project—the backpack—had been mine! 

I was so pleased to see that the idea—that is, people giving and receiving each other’s things—worked.  To know that something I no longer used could be infused with new energy and be given a second chance at life was quite satisfying. 

Our stuff has stories to tell.  That moment—when two strangers swap tales about the life of something they both shared—is . . . well, magical.

That bag’s life started in the Philippines, where my brother lived for 2 years (yup, as a Mormon missionary).  He brought it back for me.  That was around 1992 or 1993.  I used it over the years for various things—probably over-used it and that’s why it got tattered.  Over time I realized that it was spending most of its time in storage.  So, come Free Swap time I bid it farewell and passed it along.  That was the end of my story with it.

But the beginning of Amanda’s story.  And her surfer son.

Who knows what adventures it will have next?

This kind of thing fascinates me.  Community members connecting in the simplest ways.  Stories.  Stuff.  Sharing.  Our collective humanity is richer in these intersections of storylines.  I am hoping to gather Free Swap stories to eventually post over at the community free s:w.a.p. blog.  If anyone wishes to share such stories, please email me at desertgreengoddess@gmail.com.

Come to the free swap on Saturday, September, 29^th, 9 am to 1 pm at the Orem City Center Park—on Center Street, midway between State Street and 400 East.  Find items in your homes that are ready to have new adventures or come and find new-to-you items that may have their own history, to which you will add another chapter.