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.

• 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

• 

  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

• My sister Offered a big Gucca Plant which I gave her. A lady collected it, and later on in the day she returned with a bunch of flowers to say thank you.

  The moral of the story is I could have had those flowers!

  Paul Turner, Brewood, Codsall and Stretton South Staffordshire Freegle

• I have been freegling (is that the word now?) for about a year and a half and have made, in that time, about 60 – 70 offers (we had a lot of stuff) We have met some lovely people, found homes for things we no longer needed – or no longer had room for – things that we could not have sold even if we had wanted to. The most unusual was probably half a bag of calcified seaweed (for a wormery) Today, just a few days before we move to Bath, we found that the charity we had offered some large, good quality items to had no record of our arrangements and no driver to collect them. In a bit of a panic I offered them – all six items – on Freegle and all have gone during the day. Everybody came on time, was very appreciative and a pleasure to meet.

  So. at the end of all this, I just want to say a big thank you to all those good people who run Leeds Freegle. I think it is a great way of strengthening communities and, needless to say, I am already a member of the Bath group – not that we have much left to part with, but I bet once we've moved to our much smaller house there we shall find one or two things.

  Pat and Greg, Leeds Freegle

• My second child was born at 28 weeks, which was a shock to say the least. He was very ill for quite a number of months, and we couldn't make the usual "baby coming home" arrangements that parents usually make. We basically had a week to get all the bits we needed.

  That's where the Windsor & Maidenhead group came in so handy. Through it, we received a brand new Double Pushchair, a High Chair, clothes, a bouncy chair, a car seat, you name it, we were given it, and almost everyone delivered what they had to our door, as I'd explained we didn't have a car. We hadn't had to buy any premature baby clothes (surprisingly these are often a lot more expensive than regular baby clothes), as one member gave us a bin bag full.

  We had had so many costs involved in going to the hospital Neonatal ward, so the fact we were lucky enough to place an ad on the group asking for anything unwanted, purely on the off chance of anyone maybe having just one of the items, then being given them all was heartwarming.

  I always recommend Freegle to anyone looking for any item as the range of things offered, from Pianos to pushchairs, is eyewatering! I think most of my home is furnished by it.

  Claire Curran, Windsor & Maidenhead Freegle

• 

  My husband was about 18 years old when he acquired the bike. His father worked for Shell in Malaysian Borneo, in a town called Miri, and he got it from an acquaintance there. When his parents retired back to the UK, they shipped back the bike along with everything else, and now, at the age of 35, my husband has decided to part with it.

  The likely taker is a lady who works for a children's home and wants it for the home. I had about ten people who wanted it.

  Tamsin , Recycle Woking

• 

  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

• Over the past year I have offered and taken various items. A piano for my daughter, leather chairs for my son's playroom (he is like Joey off Friends).

  Now if I get something new from the shops my son automatically thinks it is from Freegle he tells his friends how good it is. I joke on that I got him from there!

  Kay Hancock, Middlesbrough Freegle

• 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

• 

  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