West Deer women facilitate free item giveaway via social media
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A West Deer woman is excited to see that a post she shared on social media over the weekend attracted attention in the community.
Kelly Rykaceski made a post in the West Deer/East Deer Current Events public Facebook group last Saturday encouraging community members to give away things they don’t need for free to others who may not be able to afford them.
“What is one thing you NEED that you cannot afford right now? Let’s check and see what others say,” the post said. “Maybe you have it and don’t need it or have a connection to get it. (I saw this on another community page and it was amazing some of the kindness that was shown.) NO SELLING, if you’re offering something on here to someone it means you’re GIVING it to them for FREE!”
Rykaceski said she saw the post somewhere else on Facebook, and decided to share it verbatim with the community group.
As of Friday, the post had more than 160 likes, more than 600 comments and more than 15 shares.
The comments ranged from items people need such as clothes, bicycles, Christmas trees and lawnmowers, to things they are willing to give away such as furniture, microwaves, car seats and washing machines.
“I’m just so happy to see everyone that’s helping everyone out,” Rykaceski said. “It just makes you feel good to give stuff to people who need it.”
Because of all the engagement on the Facebook post, another West Deer woman, Andrea Mitrakos Bartosiewicz, decided to create a separate Facebook page to facilitate the exchanges.
The Free Stuff-West Deer page, also created last Saturday, Nov. 14, has more than 500 followers.
“Folks…..I think this is SUCH a great idea, that I’m creating a stand-alone FREE FB page for West Deer,” Bartosiewicz commented on Rykaceski’s post. “There are SO many folks offering free things, that it’s tough to see them all. The name of the page is: Free Stuff-West Deer.”
The two women don’t know one another, but Rykaceski is pleased Bartosiewicz took the initiative to create the separate Facebook page.
“I think it’s wonderful,” Rykaceski said.
Bartosiewicz said having a separate Facebook page is easier because people can make individual posts about things they need or want to give away, and they won’t get lost in the comments on Rykaceski’s post.
“So many people were putting out their stuff, but you couldn’t read it because it was all bunched together,” Bartosiewicz said of the comments.
“I hope this Facebook page takes off because I do think that there’s a need for it,” Bartosiewicz said. “Hopefully people will not be afraid to ask for what they need.”
There is no set way to give away or receive items. The women said people can most likely send direct messages to whomever has an item they would like to have.
From there it will be up to the involved parties to decide on how the items are picked up or delivered.
“There’s not really any plans,” Rykaceski said. “They just get together, and make the plans that are best for them two people to meet up.”
Bartosiewicz said it would be impossible for one person to arrange all the pickups and deliveries.
“I just think it’s better if it’s one-on-one,” Bartosiewicz said.