How to give away things someone needs

Start with the post, not your closet. Read it once for the item and once for the details. This guide covers food, clothing, equipment, devices, and school supplies. If the post includes a list, treat it as the request. A Goods post with a list tells you exactly what is useful. Do not guess from the headline.

Check the match before you offer: item, size, quantity, and condition. If the post is unclear, ask a question in the public comments. Anyone can ask without donating, and owners are expected to answer. Keep the question simple: "Can you confirm [size], [quantity], and [condition] before I pack it?"

Offer on the post. You do not need a badge to offer goods. The owner chooses which offers to accept. Contact details are shared only after an offer is accepted, and a safety checklist is emailed to both of you. Today, write one clear offer: "I have [item] in [size/condition]. I can send a photo. Would that work for you?" Send the photo before you arrange hand-over.

Match the item to the request, including size and condition. A large shirt is not a medium. A device without its charger may not be complete. If you are offering food, check dates and packaging. If you are offering clothing, check for stains, tears, and missing buttons. Clean and test what you can before you promise it.

Check that the item is safe and complete. Safety recalls apply to some children’s products; check before passing them on. Do not offer car seats or cribs with an unknown history. If you cannot confirm the history, do not pass it on. For devices, test the power, buttons, and any parts the owner will need. Include the parts you would want if you were receiving it.

Decide how the hand-over will work before you offer. Will you meet in a public place, or will you post it? Who covers shipping, parking, or delivery costs? Do not promise a cost you have not checked. If you need a vehicle or a second person to move something, line that up first. Then make the offer with the details you can keep.

Clean and test the item one more time before hand-over. Send a current photo if the condition changed. Pack it so it arrives as described. For a device, include the charger or cable if that is part of what you offered. For clothing, fold it clean. For food, keep it cool or dry as needed until hand-over.

Meet in a public place first. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. If you are posting the item, keep the receipt until delivery is confirmed. Ask the owner to confirm receipt, so you both have a clear end to the offer. Do not drop off unrequested items. If you bring extra things, ask first.

If the owner asks for a different size, color, or model, do not swap it in silently. Say what you have and let them decide. "I have [item] in [size/condition]. It is not the [requested detail], but it is available. Do you want it, or should I close this offer?" That keeps the choice with the owner.

Keep personal details private until an offer is accepted. After that, share only what the hand-over needs. Do not send your home address early. Do not ask for a child’s full name, school, or photos. Posts that involve a child must be posted by a parent or legal guardian, with first names only. Keep it that way in comments and messages.

Meet in a public place first, tell someone where you are going, and block and report anyone who pressures you or asks for money. Never pay outside HelpBLESS by wire, gift card, crypto, or another app, even if someone says it is faster. Report anyone who asks. Every post has a Report button; staff follow up and may remove posts, hold unpaid funds, or close accounts.

If your offer turns into a ride, hosting someone, or care in their home, you need a verified photo, ID, or background check badge first. For goods, keep the hand-over simple. If a meet feels wrong, leave. You do not owe anyone an explanation in the moment.

Say it early. If the item is gone, damaged, or no longer fits the request, update the owner before the hand-over. Use plain words: "I’m sorry. The [item] is no longer available. I can still offer [alternative] if that helps." Do not let them wait at a meeting point for an item you cannot bring.

If your time changes, offer a new window or close the offer. "I can’t make [time]. Can we move to [new time], or should I close this offer?" If the owner changes the request, check the match again. A different size or quantity may need a new photo and a new hand-over plan.

If you are posting the item and it is delayed, tell the owner and share what you can. If the owner stops answering, do not show up unannounced. Close the offer in your own mind and move on. If anyone pressures you for money or a deposit, stop and report it.

If you cannot give the exact item, do not send a random substitute. Ask whether a different item on the list would help. If the post has no list, ask for the details you need before you offer. A useful question can save the owner from a bad hand-over.

You can also offer a skill or time on the post if the owner asks for it. If you are only giving goods, keep the offer to goods. Do not turn a goods post into a money request.

For safety questions, use the Safety center guide: How to meet, give and accept help safely. For everything else, keep the conversation on the post. If you want to give money, use the Donate button on a Money or Bills post.