Monday, January 10, 2011

Free Time Bonus Day! A shot in the dark achieves a bull's eye. What are the odds?

If you want to cut to the chase, here's my email information!


mnb504@aol.com. 


Please let me know who needs the items I've found in my Free Time. And please give me a bit of back story regarding circumstance. The big why. I'd love to give this collection to someone whose life would be somehow better, easier, with a few creature comforts.


Also, please include the best way to contact you. 


I completely value your participation in this project. Simply by reading, you're participating. And I hope this Free Time exercise might show that stepping out of the race of self-involvement for just a lap or two can really make a difference. Trust me, it's a whole lot of fun, on so many levels!


And now, on to the blog...

Let's start at the beginning - at least the beginning of this last part.

I'd been perplexed about how to partner with an organization that can help me distribute the outcome of my Free Time experiment to someone who really needs what I've found for free on craigslist.

So yesterday, I thought I'd try television.

I emailed two local news stations, and poof! This morning, a gentleman from 9 News called me! He wanted to meet at the storage area quick like a bunny. But I had to work until 4 pm today. No free time for me until Wednesday.

I thought they'd taken a pass, due to my unavailability.

But no! I got another call at 2:41 this afternoon, according to my iphone.

They wanted to do a story, as soon as I was done with work!

Completely surreal.

So Mr. Fabulous and I got to the Public Storage spot right on time, as did the folks from the station.

I feel so shame-faced that I didn't take any pictures, I didn't get the correct spelling of the reporter, I didn't remember the name of the camera man.

I have a journalism degree, for god's sake.

But I was blinded by the light of a world spinning quickly.

I had no idea that my shot-in-the-dark email to 9 News yesterday would result in a response, especially so quickly.

My hypothesis has been proven, hopefully after today. It's possible to collect a whole bunch of great stuff for free. It's possible to set a goal and achieve it. It's possible to realize there's someone else who would benefit from what's completely extra to you. And it's possible to find a resource that's the conduit to finding that someone.

Today was a total bull's eye.

11 comments:

  1. Nicely done, speed writer.

    Deb

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  2. FYI - I have no idea what URL they want from me in order to post to your blog so i am going anonymous. Although I will sign, Deb.

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  3. Not sure why this is news...anyone with a pickup truck and an email account can do this easily. Just browse the free stuff and send an email telling them you are going to pick it up.

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  4. But it's about giving it away. Creating something out of nothing.

    Best to you, in any case. My experiment has been meaningful. To me, to those who have helped, to those who have very anonymously given.

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  5. Mary I think what you're doing is beyond cool. I can't imagine someone who really deserves this has the means to collect these items like you've been doing, and to be able to give somebody that gift is truly incredible. This kind of giving and kindness from one person to another in a time of economic hardship is truly inspiring. You're going to make a huge difference in somebody's life. MAJOR kudos to you!

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  6. Wow! Thanks so much! Actually, the responses I've been getting are so heartfelt, so touching. I wish that demand met supply. Thank you again for such a lovely comment!!

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  7. Hi Mary, I saw your spot on 9News. I wish you the greatest success in your Free Time Experiment. What a wonderful thing you're doing! I'll surely keep my eyes and ears open in behalf of your endeavor.

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  8. So let me get this straight...you went around collecting free stuff that YOU did not need in hopes of finding someone that needs it and at the same time preventing people who really need these items from getting them?

    You have been hiding these items in storage instead of letting needy people use them, this sounds very selfish.

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  9. Everything will be going to folks who are in dire need. Not bogarting a thing.

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  10. It's not selfish to try and help people with next to no resources. That just makes you a great member of our community!


    Funny how easy it is to criticize someone else's efforts rather than getting off one's behind to get involved.

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  11. Wow. Criticizing someone who spends their free time collecting and transporting goods to the needy. Classy.
    -Patrick

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