I joined my local group for Freecycle, after being told about it by f8hasit. It's an organization that is set up to save things from going into the landfills. If you don't want it or don't need it anymore and was planning to just throw it away, go to Freecycle and post it or see if someone else has already asked for it. No money is exchanged at all, everything marked as "offer" is FREE and everything marked as "wanted" they want for FREE. Why not give out of the generosity of your heart, to someone in need?
I get emails from Freecycle all the time showing me what people are offering or wanting. It's been two weeks now and none of the previous posts was something I could do. Until yesterday.
This girl wrote she and her 2 kids just moved to this area and have nothing for Christmas, like...tree and decorations.
This got me to thinking of the mountain of boxes of decorations I have. Pink and gold, red and white, blue and silver, clear and pale green. The various different color themes of Christmas's past. I am a huge after Christmas sale shopper, so I am very well over stocked and even have a lot of items that still have the tags on them. Surely I can get together some things for this girl!
I spent most of yesterday going through my room (currently my storage area) just to get to those boxes. Hello hubby, still waiting on my storage shed! Ohh my goodness, the junk I have!
I found 16 boxes of Christmas card! WT* is up with that? I only have maybe 30 people to send cards to!
9 boxes of Christmas stuff! 2 containers of wrapping paper, enough to last for five more Christmas's! LOL! I cant believe I had that much, how could I possibly use all that for one Christmas? I don't! I just really like having options...hmm what color Christmas are we going to have this year? Now that I think about it's just kinda silly, considering so many are in need. I feel soo much shame for my Christmas addiction.
I was up till one in the morning, before I finally finished. My back and feet were killing me but I felt great because I knew this stuff was going to someone who really needs it. Instead of sitting in boxes, taking up space, for who knows how many more years, till I decide to have that color again.
I managed to get 3 boxes of decorations for her.
Now, what to do with all those Christmas cards?
I've talked to the girl and we will be meeting this weekend.
10 comments:
Yea!!
a.) Thanks for the shout-out!
b.) That's fabulous about the Christmas decorations. I did the exact same thing just a few days ago. Really!
c.) I just BOUGHT (I can't believe it myself) some new cards, and the ones from years past I just put up on our Freecycle. I don't want to send the same card to people by accident. (My aunt would send the same card year after year. It got to be a joke in the family. We figured she bought a bunch one year when they were 90% off and only had 4 people to send them to!)
Well done, my friend!
:-)
Good for you; what a great concept.
And don't be at all ashamed of your Christmas addiction; if you hadn't had it, you couldn't have done this thoughtful deed...
That's fantastic Heather! I'm sure she will be more then appreciative. And you are racking up some serious good karma!
We take old christmas cards and cut circles out of them, then glue the circles onto little wooden embroidery hoops (or bigger ones). Overlap the cardstock circles and you end up with a pretty and unique wreath. Tie a ribbon throught the screw fastening and hang on the tree. They are a quick and simple project even kids can do. =]
♥Spot
We use freecycle a lot - it's a great way to pass things along.
f8hasit...Your very welcome! I have been following your blog for some time, I enjoy your posts.
That is too funny! Last year I used all the leftovers I had from previous Christmas's.
Maureen...Thanks and you are soo right, I didn't think of it like that!
Spot...I can always use some good karma!
That is a great idea! I think I will try to get the grandkids to do that, next time they are here.
Valdese...Isn't it great? Although I have to resist my hording ways and not look too long at the offers.
Oh, YAY! What a wonderful post! I am so proud of you...and so happy for this girl! You'll have to make sure and post after you meet her.
Don't you DARE beat yourself up for having an abundance of anything....that's just putting too much on yourself. You've done a wonderful, selfless thing. Leave it at that.
That is awesome that you are able to give what you are no longer using! Like I said before books are my passion and we were at Barnes and Nobles today and they have their Christmas books for kids area up already. Every year they have books that kids are wanting and every year I donate at least one. It's so nice to see others giving as well! :)
Kathryn...Thanks, I will post our meeting. I'll try not to beat myself over it.
Kendrasue...I do believe giving is way better than recieving. Yea to you!
So I've been procrastinating on checking freecycle out because I really like stuff...especially free stuff. I have this vision of my living room filled with rocking chairs, gigantic vases and coffee table books. Good for you giving away your extra Christmas decoratons! I bet she appreciated that more than you'll know! =)
Mindy
www.thesuburbanlife.com
Mindy...I have to dig deep for the self control, I am such a pack rat. LOL!
Thanks and she sounds excited, we'll see this weekend.
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