Freegle Stories

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• I joined the Woking group to Freegle things from a house we were clearing. The moderator kindly took me off moderation at my request (possibly on the strength of my record with the Bath group) as time was of the essence.

  The job is now done (significantly helped by using your site) and I’ve cancelled membership of the Woking group as we don’t live in your area.

  The experience encouraged other members of our family to get into freegleing as they saw what a good idea it is.

  Meanwhile I continue to be an avid ‘Freegler’ in the Bath area!

  Thanks for all your help.
  Gill

  Keep up the good work!

  Gill Woking Freegle

• 

  I have had lots of things gifted to me over the last couple of years, all of which I am really grateful for. I thought I would share a makeover story.

  I have been doing up my garden, in a bid to love it more and utilise it more. I had put a wanted post on Freegle for some garden furniture. Everyone who is on Freegle will know what I mean, when I say that, when anyone replies to one of your posts it is last thing you would expect and you are very appreciative for them reading the post let alone replying. It is sometimes overwhelming how kind people are. A lovely couple offered me a bench and table and a water butt. They also dropped it off at my house, because my car was just not big enough.

  They admitted the table was now a bit unloved and they had bought a new set. Well it didn’t matter and I had in mind what I would do.

  I sanded them and painted them. They are not to every ones taste but I love them and I haven’t seen anything like them in any shops. I hope people can realise that what junk they may be throwing away is like the saying, someone else’s treasure.

  Gem , Warrington Freegle

• 

  My neighbour recently threw out a Hotpoint tumble dryer for reasons unknown – apparently working, externally looks like new; I could only conclude it didn’t match the brand of his washer (!) I got it shunted round to my drive and I gave it away on Freegle the same evening; mad mad world! Of course there’s the question whether we should be using power-guzzling tumble dryers at all rather than air drying, but that’s a whole other debate…..

  Nigel , Penrith and Eden District Freegle

• Last year a very good friend of mine was dying of cancer. By special dispensation of the archbishop he was married to the mother of his 8 year old son in St. James Hospital. She was disabled and pregnant at the time, then contracted meningitis and was in hospital herself. Needless to say, neither of them were able to make preparations for the new baby. So I set about collecting as much from Freegle offers as I could in preparation for the baby’s arrival. My friends were really appreciative for having that worry taken care of for them. They were also amazed, not knowing about Freegle themselves beforehand. As for me, it kept me busy and made me feel useful at a time when it would have been easy to feel helpless. I got to help without needing money, which I just didn’t have. Meeting so many truly wonderful people through Freegle really helped me through a very sad time. A healthy baby girl was born and my friend got to see her before he died. That was my first Freegle baby. Now it’s my turn. I want my baby to be a Freegle baby too, as a statement to the fact that my child is being born into a community of generous, principled and resourceful people.

  Claire , Leeds Freegle

• 

  I recently offered a huge child’s toy shop, a child’s pink and purple table and chair, a pink rocking horse, a toy shopping trolley, a bin-liner of toys and a bin-liner of clothes, shoes and belts to my local group (Huddersfield) on behalf of my daughter, who is clearing space for an imminent new arrival.

  I had loads of enquiries for the toys, but in the end I chose a woman called Sarah, who mentioned in her email that she fostered children, this seemed like a lovely home for the toys especially. After Sarah had collected the items she sent me the following email –

  _Hi Kath
  Arrived about 6.15 and collected everything. Please tell your daughter a big thank you. It’s like Christmas day all over again here. We have teenagers trying on clothes and little ones fighting over toys. We are very grateful. Thank you so much. The children we foster have so little, although they get an allowance, so we try to give them as much as possible and when they move on it all goes with them.
  Thank you again.
  Sarah_

  It made me realise that Freegle groups can and do make a difference. I am so glad that other children are getting enjoyment from the items.

  Kath , Huddersfield Freegle

• My best Freegle experience can only be described as a guardian angel looking down on me. When returning from a trip to London, I turned on my computer to find a reclining chair being offered. As my husband is disabled with a back problem this would be the ideal item to make his life more comfortable. I sent an e-mail to the person offering the chair and received one back asking for my phone number. That evening I received a phone call from them confirming the chair was mine, not only this but that they would deliver it to me the next morning, and even though it had snowed overnight they arrived as arranged. As I say my, guardian angels.

  Denise Gilliham, Great Yarmouth Freegle

• 

  When I moved to the area with my husband and one month old baby in 2007 I didn’t know anyone, it was quite a lonely time for me and it was a struggle to make like minded friends.

  We’ve given many things away since then using Freegle and have received many fantastic items, usually for our 2 boys, but my most memorable example was when I put a ‘wanted’ post on Freegle for ‘baby and toddler books’ as my little boy was getting bored of the ones that we had.

  A lovely lady replied with an offer of some books and it turned out that she lived on the road behind mine, in fact our back gates are almost opposite each other. Since she gave me the books we, and our kids, have gradually become really good friends.

  So I’d live to say a big ‘thank you’ to Freegle because without it I wouldn’t have made such a wonderful friend.

  Dani Gaines, Bolton Freegle

• I always try to post a thank you message to folks straight after picking up, but I confess that sometimes I’m disorganised. The trouble is, once you realise how much fun, or use you’re having, a few months later, it’d feel odd to get in contact again so late, and I’ve often lost the e-mail address, so I thought I’d use the cafe to say a few thank you’s. The right people may not read them, but maybe they’ll give you all a warm feeling for things you’ve given away.

  So, thank you to the lady from Caversham who has provided my daughter with hours of fun, by just asking did I want some bath toys when I went to pick up some Megablocks (also good fun, BTW!) The Winnie the Pooh bath toys are in daily use, and helped us realise how much our little one’s speech was improving, as she asks for Tigger or Piglet each time! Thanks to the same lady for two stools designed for toilet training, but that are getting good use at my daughter’s (charity shop) easel.

  Thank you to a lady from West Reading for the small trampoline – it’s well loved – although little one currently dances on it, as she hasn’t yet mastered jumping!

  Thank you too to the little girl from Shinfield who passed on her fab pink trike to plenty of enjoyment (and only once to dozing off on it!)

  Thank you to someone in Shinfield for the piano many years ago! Rescued from her garage, our neighbours kindly helped the collection, and it looks fabulous. it’s been a source of entertainment for two of us for a long time, and now our daughter is experimenting!

  Thank you to the lady who was in Woodley, but was moving, for the highchair. That’s had a lot of use – usually several times a day.

  Thank you to yesterday’s pick-up of books for my little girl – each parent has already read them to her several times already!

  Thank you to the gentleman who responded to my “wanted” for a hairdryer – it doesn’t get used that often, but everytime it is, I am always so grateful!

  Thank you to someone from near town centre for the footspa – it was good to try, but we eventually re-freegled as we felt someone else might make better use of it.

  Thank you to the lady who lived near where my sister used to, for the fabulous lilac hat & brooch – I’ve worn them to two weddings already, and I’m sure those wont be the last.

  Thank you to the lady in Woodley who supplied a pushchair parasol, which helped reduce my maternal worries no end.

  Thank you to someone for the re-bounder / trampette / exercise trampoline. It did get good use, though not so much lately, so that might form part of the clear out I’m itching to do, in that magical time of “when things are a bit less busy.” One of the things that is fab about freegle is that you can give things a try, and if it doesn’t work out, or your life changes a bit, re-freegle it.

  Thank you to the person in Caversham whose blender has been used SOOOO much, and has helped make a lot of healthy vegetable soups, which I’m sure has been even more environmentally friendly than you’d have guessed, as those soups constantly help save me having to buy clothes in much larger sizes!

  Thank you to the lady just down the road from me, from the dressmakers patterns and offer of advice if needed. I never did take you up on it, but it was very kind of you. This was a few years before my little girl, and I passed the children’s ones onto a friend, who I think made several things for both her girls. (Where she finds the hours, I don’t know, but I’m glad they were used!)

  Thank you also to all the people who took things away – the space cleared has been wonderful, and I’m always happier if I think things are going to a good home! It’s definitely time for another clear out, so that’s added to the list of things I aim to do in June… or July if things run away from me, as usual.

  And of course if anyone feels the urge to offer a dressmakers’ dummy, an alto sax, or anything a toddler can have fun with, I’ll look forward to e-mailing you too!

  P.S. And an early thank you to the Woodley lady I’m arranging a pick-up with now – looking forward to enjoying the goodies!

  Gill Smith, Reading and Woodley Cafe

• Hi. I recently unsubscribed from Glossop Freegle, and received your acknowledgement. My reason for leaving is that we have been de-cluttering prior to moving away from the area. Your site has been invaluable for our purposes – we have nothing left to give away!! and better still, much of it would have gone to the tip but for your organisation. It’s been fascinating to learn of the uses people have made of our unwanted items. Many thanks.

  Barry Glossop Freegle

• 

  Gnome-body wanted them!

  About a year and a half past I found out my friend/neighbour (Anne) hated gnomes. Being the practical joker that I am thought it would be really funny to fill her garden with them when she was away. I bought some and decided it would be too costly to do it this way. I then turned to Freegle a few times with no real luck.

  However after persisting with Freegle eventually I got the offer of some from an avid freegler and decided I wasn’t waiting anymore. After Anne had taken the dogs down for their last outing for the night I waited until she went to bed (had to wait as she ha a security light and c.c.t.v) Hallelujah….. I then went into her garden and deposited the gnomes. I heard her in the morning taking the dogs down and had a wee chuckle to myself.

  The next thing I know she is battering against my bedroom window shouting Get up you B——-D I’ve been invaded. And to top it all I also sent her an e-mail asking how does this song go again…?.?.?

  O give me a home
  where the little men roam
  and the Gnomes and the
  leprechauns play
  where the mischief is done
  and the laughter is heard
  and the skies are not light
  when they play….
  Gnomes…Gnomes on the range
  where the Gnomes and
  the leprechauns play.!!!!!!!

  Of course all the neighbours, family and friends had a good laugh (including Anne herself). It has certainly been a good talking point. And YES she will try to get her own back (I await with anticipation)

  Thanks to Freegle as without it and the avid freegler who offered some gnomes I would still be waiting for this to happen.

  Megs Edinburgh Freegle