LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – “Something that you’re done with…not only can it get a whole new life, but it can add to somebody else’s life so much like it has mine,” shared Stephani Williamson, a member of the East Henderson Buy Nothing group after receiving Christmas decorations from her neighbors.
The “Buy Nothing” project started more than 10 years ago in the Seattle area and now there are chapters across the country including several in the Las Vegas area. They operate Facebook pages where people post all kinds of things they want to give away and others post things they need.
“Christmas is a hard time for me. I lost my mother, and I lost my little brother within a week of each other years apart in December, so what always gets me through is decorating,” Williamson revealed. Williamson is having a happy holiday thanks to her new neighbors. She just moved to Henderson in October and has gotten everything from a pre-lit Christmas tree to a model village to go underneath, all has been gifted to her through the Buy Nothing East Henderson group on Facebook.
“Sorry if I get a little emotional,” Williamson said to FOX5 reflecting on the generosity of her neighbors. “They’ve been amazing, I’m really struggling this time of year. I was out of work for a little while and trying to get back up on my feet. My cars in the shop, so I’ve been working seven days a week trying to come up with money. All my belongings are in storage in Arizona,” Williamson explained.
The pinnacle of the presents: the angel atop her tree. “I was able to put it up on the tree on the anniversary of the day my mom became an angel,” Williamson recounted.
“She was able to share with me the joy that gift brought her in being able to remember her mom,” Travis Honings, another member of the “Buy Nothing” group. Honings gifted Williamson the tree topper. He’s been a part of Buy Nothing groups in different cities living across the country.
“I believe that you know as a community, we need to be able to help each other out,” Honings contended.
In years past, Honings has been gifted things too, including a couch still in his guest room.
“When we did fostering in Virginia, we had a bassinet that was gifted to us. Saved us a few hundred bucks,” Honings reported.
Williamson says while she can’t afford to buy presents this year, neighbors have also given her things like ornaments and tea bags. She plans to personalize them and give them to family.
In past years, Williamson was able to gift too and says that giving is often better than receiving.
“A couple years ago for Christmas, I had a lot of fun with it because I had a lot of little toys left over and I wrapped them and put them out on my front porch and parents were able to pick them up and they were already wrapped and everything. That made me feel like Mrs. Claus,” said Williamson.
If there is something you need or want it, you can join the group and ask for it, someone might have it collecting dust and ready to go to a new home.
Here are links to a few local pages:
East Henderson: East Henderson Buy Nothing Facebook
South Henderson:
South Henderson Buy Nothing Facebook
Black Mountain/ Paradise Hills/ Old Vegas Trail:
Black Mountain/ Paradise Hills/ Old Vegas Trail Buy Nothing Facebook
Southwest Las Vegas:
Southwest Las Vegas Buy Nothing Facebook
Northwest Las Vegas:
Northwest Las Vegas Buy Nothing Facebook
You can also search “Buy Nothing” in your area.
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