West Ashley facebook group puts kindness over profit
Every Friday, Sassy Maynard enters an “In Search Of” post in the Buy Nothing West Ashley Facebook group. In short order there are a stream of commenters mentioning goods that would make a difference in their lives. Some items aren’t in the budget while others might fill a need. From toddler’s shoes, crib sheets, kid’s bikes, crock pots, and bread makers, sewing machines, and lawn mowers—someone needs it and someone has it. Many requests are filled within minutes.
The “In Search Of” list is a Friday feature. The rest of the week, givers list items they are freely offering to neighbors. Recent offerings included furniture, boogie boards, exercise machines, bridesmaid dresses, mattresses, and a tempting stash of new-looking fencing outfits, masks, and foils.
The West Ashley group is large with more than 4,600 members and five administrators. Truth is, we are a generous and growing community.
I met group administrator Sassy Maynard to learn the details of this phenomena of generosity. The current administrators assumed management in 2018 and consist of Candice Heyl, Corey Ann, Marci Rudich, Tashana Remsburg, and Sassy Maynard.
There are few rules and little drama. Participants are asked to include the neighborhood they live and note when an item has been claimed. For hot ticket items with multiple requests, the giver determines how to best fairly select the recipient. The basic guidelines include: no expired food, no weapons or alcohol, and the hope that the item will fill a real need.
In these tight times, I sat across from Sassy, wondering if the group grasped the impact this project demonstrating kindness in action has on our neighbors. Some of the needs requested were so basic and yet could make a real quality of life impact.
I tested the system the next day by offering an unused glider bench. Within five minutes, Nini and Franco Piedade made arrangements to pick it up with a plan to spruce it up with a splash of fresh paint.
Although not officially affiliated, there’s an international Buy Nothing website at www.buynothingproject.org. It is the largest gift economy created for the sole purpose of building community. Their motto is: Buy less and share more. It makes us all richer and the planet cleaner.
Hearts of Hope Quilters with a Cause
Quilter Judith Carr’s heart was heavy with the news of the suffering and war in Ukraine. She read a blog by Bonnie Hunter who had designed a Hearts of Hope quilt pattern and was offering the design to quilters who would donate to a charity benefiting Ukraine and use the finished quilt to support the cause.
Judith suggested that the new West Ashley Quilting & Sewing Group tackle the project, display it locally to bring awareness to the bravery and continuing suffering of the people in the Ukraine, and hopefully raise donations.
The quilting group meets on Tuesdays at the Coastal Community Church and Mary Theidke Grady invited me to see the completed quilt. Members of the group gathered in homes to work on the project. Funds raised will be donated to support Ukrainians and the war effort. The quilters welcome fundraising ideas and locations to display the quilt and invite new members interested in quilting to join the group. Contact Carol Gibson Bauman at cbg707@gmail.com for more information.
Stay healthy my friends and wave at me as I wander. For an upcoming column, let me know where your favorite West Ashley tree is: westashleywanderer@gmail.com.
