A Small-Town Confession: Volunteering Is My Favorite Serotonin Hack

I started GimmieFreebies in 2010 with the hope of making a trustworthy freebie site that wouldn’t lead you down the garden path, as my mom would say. In other words, we posted real, legit freebies that you could really get. No scams, no hoops to jump through. From that, we built a community of thrifty friends who were fun, like-minded, and really good at finding free stuff. In the past few years, that’s really changed. I’ve changed. I lost my dad last Spring, and my world fell apart. NGL, I have not been okay.

Volunteering, for me, is a low-commitment, high-reward way to feel useful and connected without signing my life away. It’s community-minded, flexible, and honestly? It makes my brain happy. So, naturally, I ran toward that to fill the void.

Who am I? I’m Wendy, a Gen X empty-nester mom in a sweet little town where everyone knows everyone—or at least knows your dogs. Seriously, I get a text at least once a week that mine are at the school again. (Thanks, TJ!)  I volunteer because I want to, when I want to. No guilt, no burnout, no endless meetings. I show up, help out, laugh a lot, and go home feeling like I did something that mattered. That’s my sweet spot. I can do that 100% in the dark, no fanfare, no recognition. I don’t care about that. As long as people aren’t wrong about me (think I’m doing something I’m not), then I’m golden.

Okay, in a perfect world, that’s 100% true. My toxic trait is that I like to fix things, and because of my dad, I know how to fix them—or I know someone who does. And, I take on way too much. Yeah, I said it.

And here’s the thing that people don’t say out loud enough: doing good doesn’t have to be miserable. It can be fun. It can be social. It can even involve great deals and a live auction platform, apparently.

Why Whatnot Feels Like Community (Not Just Another App)

Whatnot is pretty cool because it’s live, human, and a little unpredictable—in the best way. It feels more like hanging out than shopping.

If you haven’t been on my Whatnot live shows yet, imagine a live auction crossed with a thrift store, crossed with a group chat where people actually like each other. Sellers like me curate items, go live on camera, and buyers hang out, chat, and snag deals in real time.

For me, it scratched the same itch as volunteering: connection, usefulness, and a shared experience. I get to curate things I genuinely love, offer them at fair prices, and create a space where people feel welcome. Plus, let’s be honest—finding a great piece and passing it along to someone who is excited about it? That’s a little hit of joy every time.

Why You Should Follow Me (Even If You’re “Just Browsing”)

I’m new there, but I’m intentional. I curate cool clothes thoughtfully, go live consistently, three times a week. And I bring the kind of energy that I hope makes you want to stay a while.

In February, I’m planning to go live Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. Central. Since I’m still new, that schedule might flex a little, but that’s the current plan. Following me, and bookmarking my shows means you’ll always know when I’m popping up.

Here’s what each night looks like:

• Wednesdays: Kids & baby clothes random pulls—practical, adorable, and parent-approved.
• Fridays: Hard goods like kitchenwares, housewares, and home décor—the fun stuff that makes a house feel like yours.
• Saturdays: Clothing for men, women, and maybe kids too. All sizes, all vibes.

I never know exactly what I’m going to get, but I do know this: I curate the best of the best. If I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend, it doesn’t make the cut.

This Is About Hanging Out, Not Just Buying Stuff

The real value of my live shows isn’t just the deals—it’s the experience. It’s fun, relaxed, and intentionally welcoming.

I want my shows to feel like you’re hanging out with a friend who has great taste and a knack for finding gems. We chat. We laugh. We root for each other when someone scores a great deal. You don’t have to buy a thing to belong there.

Helping my community—both locally and online—matters to me. If that also helps you score something great for $15 or less? Even better.

Bundle of Joy

Besides freebies, I also love saving money. So, I bundle things in Priority Flat Rate boxes that can hold up to 70 lbs for one price! That usually means 7 items for one shipping fee. Sometimes, like with baby clothes, you can fit more like 12 items in a single box. The box size is set by the post office, and that’s really the only limitation!

Oh, and I always start auctions really low, like at $1. So, you could use your free start-up bonus to get items totally free!

Come Join Me

If you like good deals, good vibes, and a little small-town heart mixed with solid fashion sense, I think you’ll like hanging out with me.

Use my Whatnot referral link to get your free start-up bonus, and come and see me at my upcoming shows. I’ll bring the curated finds. You bring yourself. We’ll figure the rest out live.

Become a Whatnot Seller Yourself

You can even become a Whatnot seller. There’s no fee to sign up, and you can go two ways: list items for sale or go live and sell. When you list items, you can sell either as a buy it now or list them for your auction.

I’ve learned so much in the past few weeks, I’m happy to share how I’ve build this. Be sure to follow me on Youtube for more behind-the-scenes Whatnot and Poshmark selling.