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Free Stuff Here, Free Stuff There, Free Stuff Everywhere

It is with the same golden-hued filter that some remember catching fireflies in jars on warm summer evenings, or building snowmen in the winter, that I remember Bulk Trash Day in New Haven. Oh, it was glorious. One day a year, the city invited everyone to put out the garbage that wouldn’t fit in a standard trash container, and lo, the treasures that could be found. Every street was a scavenger’s daydream.

What could be better than Bulk Trash Day? Buy Nothing Day! And it’s here, this weekend! Hosted by the Buy Nothing Green Lake SE, Buy Nothing Wallingford Central/East, Buy Nothing West Wallingford, Fremont Freecyle, Buy Nothing Upper Fremont and Buy Nothing Lower Fremont groups, Saturday, June 27, 9 am–4 pm, offer up your unwanteds and scoop up your I-could-use-thats from all over the neighborhood.

Sarah Moore of Buy Nothing Green Lake SE explains:

What is a Buy Nothing Day? It’s a neighborhood-wide day of giving. Participants place items outside their homes, and neighbors and passers-by can take any items that would be useful to them. Think neighborhood-wide yard sale, but everything is freely given.

You can “host” and hang out with neighbors, or just put a free pile outside your home. We’ll create a post on Friday that everyone can use to add pics of the items they’re giving away.

There’s no need to offer free items in order to pick up items. You can tour the neighborhood, talk with your fellow BNers, and just enjoy the day. […]

Here’s how to participate in the giving:
  • On Friday, we’ll post flyers you can print & put out with your stuff. The flyers will have Buy Nothing info as well as a QR code to the giving map. Plan to print the flyer on Friday!
  • On Saturday, set out your items at about 9 am. (Watch the weather report, and plan ahead/get creative if rain is in the forecast—perhaps use a tent, garage, or covered porch space.)
  • Three rules for givers: (1) everything must be free, (2) no live animals, and (3) it’s okay if your items aren’t in pristine condition; we just ask that if there are known flaws, please label items accordingly.
  • Clean up!!! At the end of the afternoon, be sure to bring your remaining items inside or take them to a donation site.
To “shop” the free items on Saturday, grab a tote bag, use the map to visit the participating locations (including our Wallingford & Fremont neighbors), and find fun gifts to take home!

Other miscellany:
  • Gifts will be available to anyone walking/rolling by your home. Recipients don’t need to be members of a Buy Nothing group to participate.

Some additional guidelines from Sarah E. Reichman of Buy Nothing Wallingford (Central/East):

Community Free Day Policies:
  1. If you have added your home to the map, please have your items out by 9:00 AM on the day of the event.
  2. Clearly mark anything not for sale (tables, shelves, etc.). Please don’t take display tables, shelves, etc., without asking the host if they are for giveaway.
  3. Please be honest about the condition of the items you are giving. Label any items that are broken/for parts/stained, etc.
  4. No dumping! Leave free items at someone else’s table/house with permission only.
  5. Absolutely NO LIVE ANIMALS are to be included in this event or dumped at someone’s house/on their giveaway pile.
  6. Please clean up and put away all items not taken

Here’s the map (click to see live updates and to add your address):

And if you’re having a yard sale this weekend, you may want to distinguish yourself carefully! There’s at least one on our Wallingford Yard Sales page.

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Jordan

I started Wallyhood back in 2008, right when my son was born, because I realized I had lived in the neighborhood since 1993 and didn't really know my neighbors. I figured writing a blog about what was going on around me would be a good way to meet people and help other people do the same. As the years progressed, those neighbors have picked up the torch and it is now a group effort, which I adore. I moved out of Wallingford for a few years (2020 - 2025), but I'm back, now living with my wife, son and dog (Dillinger) up in Tangletown.