Freegle Stories

Why not send us your Freegling story and photos? Mail us at stories@iLoveFreegle.org.

Here’s a random selection of the ones we’ve received.

• A Thankyou Letter to Freegle

  Thankyou for the people that helped me furnish a new home in a new area beautifully, when I had spent all funds on the bricks and mortar, to include almost new sofas, and desirables for my children settling in. Thankyou to the people that helped empty that same house through receiving, when I had lost my partner and both parents within one year. Thankyou to the poeple that received, so that my children did not see that my house was being repossessed some time later and I was unable to afford a van for removal. Thankyou to the people who gave to help furnish a new home that was also to be our adventure. Thankyou to the man who gave me great joy in receiving from me a sofa I had rescued from being crushed in a skip to offer to Freegle – leather and in perfect condition. Thankyou to him, for showing benefit from my efforts and sheer determination. Thankyou for the dining chairs and table that however luxurious your fiance hated: I used them at home and later in an art gallery for interest and display. Thankyou for the simple things that kept us anew. Thankyou for smiling,taking and giving me great pleasures in seeing your faces. Thankyou for enjoying high tech expensive silver kitchen stuff when I prefer white, thankyou for offering a new bed when the old was too filled with memories. Thankyou lady for being fast and strong and taking apart that bed with glee for your daughter, and great to look at and dream on without the history. Thankyou for the plant pots that helped seeds and me grow. Thankyou for keeping my house tidy and clutter free. Thankyou for having a big family so that I can enjoy children's clothes in great condition, I have paid large sums of money for being passed on to a great home. Thankyou for turning up. Thankyou for being in when I called. Thankyou for showing me your beautiful communal garden made by Freegle for your neighbours. Thankyou for reminding me of the generosity of human spirit. Thankyou for wanting to learn, taking some books and letting me help you. Thankyou for all the cat things when our greatest pleasure adopted us. Thankyou for advice on pet care. Thankyou for helping me teach my kids about all the generosity and courage out there that costs nothing but our time to think. Thankyou for taking my old and giving me your new, and making my memories your beginning. Thankyou for stories from your children adjusting to new life with my children's things helping them along the way. Thankyou for a lovely computer table, thankyou for beds for sleepovers, thankyou two students for making me laugh that you are young and will walk home with the two seater in fabulous condition you need from me. Thankyou that your mother is more comfortable now, and you have raised money for your disabled son's school.

  Just Another Freegler, Stirling City Freegle

• 

  I recently offered a 14” TV/DVD unit to the group, had loads of requests for it, one that caught my eye was from someone who is a refuge project worker at Havant Women’s Aid.

  Her reply to me read :

  We have a family who have recently moved into the refuge with four teenage children. This would be ideal as the kids could have it in their bedroom so they have some time separate from the other residents and their younger siblings. We are able to collect whenever is convenient for you. Thanks for considering us.

  Usual contact followed, she came to collect it…we chatted etc…I wished her well…off she went.

  Tonight I had an envelope through the door, my name on the front, opened it, pulled out a key ring with a hand drawn racing car fob, and a hand written note in very young writing.

  It said :

  Dear Bill, we thank you very much for the TV you gave us. It has made our life at the refuge much better and given us a reason to like our room, so thank you very, very much.

  Drawn on the other side of the paper was a huge THANK YOU all multi coloured…

  I was really touched by this as you can imagine…I showed it to my other half, Kris, she was quite touched too….

  My point is, if I hadn’t had the opportunity to offer it in the first place, this would not have happened.

  Bill Fiddes, Havant Freegle

• I worked for some years as a conveyancing solicitor, handling the purchase of new homes. Often young couples or singles would want to purchase a home, and they all wanted to maximise deposits etc so didn't have much furniture or what they had was ancient hand-me-downs. Sometimes couples were separating and sharing the furniture between them.

  For these people just beginning their lives as new homeowners, I've often recommended Freegle and many have come back to me to say how marvellous it has been to furnish their new homes with free furniture.

  I bought my own home and when it came to moving, found that some of my furniture wouldn't fit or was totally unsuitable. I love the fact that I can experiment with different looks, different furnishings, different…everything. And what I don't need soon finds a ready home with someone else. Everyone I've met has been delightful and it's a pleasure "doing business" with them. The moderators at the local Freegle site work hard to keep the site a pleasant place. Hats off to them.

  Twinx , Bath Freegle

• 

  My family and I are Italian/Australian (or vice versa) who, following a sequence of hard times since 2006, arrived in this country in September 2008 with one bag each and £700 to our name. Thru God's grace, our good fortune and the members of Greencycle, we have been able to:

  get a leg up to join British society,
  entertain the kids,
  prepare food,
  store clothes,
  stay warm,
  watch TV and videos,
  do favours for others,
  reduce our own clutter,
  understand the social mechanics of the local community,
  meet new friends and…
  experience the warm fuzzies unique to a committed recycler!

  Zz , Greencycle Sussex

• I would like to say how wonderful freegle was for me and my family. My son and daughter in law had to return from Canada earlier than anticipated.
  They didn't know they were 'expecting' until mum-to-be was told at 35 weeks; and she then went into labour at 36 weeks – probably the shock – and had a healthy baby boy. So a 'five day pregnancy' !

  First they had to sort out how to pay their medical fees – as their insurance didn't cover them for pregnancy and delivery; then arrange to quit their jobs, pack up and move out of the apartment, and fly back to the UK. They had to come to live with us – granny and grandpa – as no home, no job.
  Thanks to Freegle we were able to get them everything needed for a new baby, and more – moses basket, cot, travel cot, high-chair, bedding, baby clothes, steriliser, bouncy seat, buggy, car seat, baby bath, even some cuddly toys.

  We are so grateful to the help, generosity and good wishes that strangers have shown to us all,

  Noeline Beswick, Bedford Freegle

• As my kids and I have begun breeding guinea pigs and now, rabbits on a hobby basis, we were finding it difficult to house them all. Someone on Freegle had 2 cages and straw on offer. I was lucky to be offered them. Although the fellow freeglers lived nearby, I use bikes and buses for transport and have no car. The kind couple arranged to deliver them in their car and duly did. I was so pleased and the 2 cages are fantastic.

  Carrie Todd, Edinburgh 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 totally gutted my kitchen. I am a pensioner living on my own, and it's been great. I haven't had to struggle with a single screw. The nicest thing that happened involved my cooker. I had a woman from Porthmadog reply almost immediately, and within the hour she was at my door responding to an invitation to inspect. I opened the door, and she said: "Don't you know me?" "No, I'm sorry". It turned out that we were in ballet classes together 54 years ago in Blaenau Ffestiniog! It was very nice indeed. Another hour, and 2 sons and a trailer later and my cooker has a new home in Porthmadog. I am so delighted that absolutely nothing has gone to a landfill site.

  Carol , Porthmadog Recycle

• I have so many Freegle testimonials but here are three. My elderly Mum came out of hospital in 2008 needing 24/7 care and the 'agency' proved to be a 'rentamob' – useless, so the three daughters – I'm the middle one – had to take over. My husband and I weren't sleeping at all well in the worn-out single beds in Mum's spare room. A lovely first-time freegler, turning their guest room into a nursery for the baby expected, gave us a super double bed, mattress and pair of matching bedside cabinets. Result a decent night's sleep every Thursday and Friday. Not only this, but another person gave Mum a Rollator walking aid with seat-it is so much better for her than the standard zimmer frame and has really made a difference to her getting around. And Mum has just given a shoe rack, which her shoes wouldn't stay on, to a Freegler who requested a rack and is delighted.
  PS Typing this sitting on a Freegle chair from someone in Luton!

  Dee Dell, Bedford 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