There鈥檚 generosity to be found on social media after all. A Bowie, Maryland, woman who didn鈥檛 want to retire until she could really figure out something productive to do with her time has done just that, using social media to harness the generosity of what she calls her 鈥渃ommunity helpers.鈥�
They鈥檙e the ones who pull up to Nancy Freeman鈥檚 home on Twisting Lane to drop off food in one of the bins sitting on her front porch. Lately the other bin has been to collect, believe it or not, underwear.
Freeman is active on the social media platform Nextdoor to help families in need when she heard about someone who could use a little help.
In the past, that’s involved items such as furniture or other things someone landing on their feet out of homelessness might use. Last fall, she asked for help collecting winter coats for students at an elementary school in Prince George鈥檚 County. She was hoping for about 20, but got more than 100, which meant she could take more coats to more schools than she first expected.
鈥淥ne of the schools I went to said that they could really use underpants, which surprised me,鈥� said Freeman.
鈥淏ut they have pre-K and kindergarten kids, and they have accidents. So before I delivered winter coats to the second school, I picked up a few pairs of underpants just to see if they needed them. Here I am at the school delivering two huge bags of winter coats, but when I asked if they could use the underpants I swear they were almost as excited. That鈥檚 when I realized it was time for an underpants drive.鈥�
Freeman posted about it online, she figured she might get around 50 pairs or so. So far she鈥檚 gotten more than 1,000.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e coming from the community,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople just drop them off.鈥�
And it鈥檚 not just new, clean underwear for the youngest elementary school students either.
鈥淚 also mentioned that some of the fifth-grade girls could also need underpants for other reasons,鈥� she added, and donors came through for them too.
鈥淚 have, I have to admit, been labeled Captain Underpants lately,鈥� said Freeman. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a title that I wear proudly.鈥�
But she’s not stopping there. With so many needs in Prince George鈥檚 County, Freeman wants to do her part to help meet them, and help others do the same. She plans to start a website that will match those with a specific need 鈥� clothes, furniture, other household items 鈥� with someone who can meet it.
鈥淚 know from my group that if I put on Nextdoor that I have a little boy who needs a size 7 pair of shoes, I鈥檓 going to end up with 65 pairs of size 7 shoes,鈥� she said.
It鈥檚 part of her plan for retirement: 鈥渉ow to best serve individual needs.”
鈥淢y role is to find out where the needs are so all these wonderful, generous people can help fill those needs.”
