Over 900 Carousell users join movement to give away free masks and supplies

While some are busy turning their storerooms into minimarts, hundreds of Carousellers are going above and beyond to spread the spirit of giving.

Proving that we aren't all selfish hoarders, over 900 Carousell users are giving away surplus masks, hand sanitisers, alcohol swabs and other items for free as part of the company's #ChooseToGive movement, which kicked off on Feb 19.

To join the movement, all users have to do is list their item in the Free category and include #ChooseToGive in their listing.

The initiative comes amid a number of reports of face mask scammers plaguing the online marketplace, cheating users out of thousands of dollars.

"The initiative urges the community to #ChooseToGive freely instead, by highlighting moving stories of other Singaporeans who have gone the extra mile to help those in need," a Carousell spokesperson said.

One such user is Connie Ng, 38.

Ng started out giving away face masks for free on the platform as she had a surplus. To date, she's spent hundreds on masks for complete strangers.

"I've chosen to give away free masks on Carousell because I think that there are a lot of elderly, sick people, people who are unable to purchase it at such high costs. So I really feel for them," she explained.

"I won't be able to help the whole of Singapore, of course. But at least I'll be able to contribute."

Besides medical supplies, users are also encouraged to donate other items that will benefit those in need.

This includes clothes for migrant workers such as jeans, covered pants and shoes, as well as supplies that young parents may need like diapers, milk powder, breastfeeding supplies and baby carriers.

But the possibilities are endless. A quick scan of the campaign hashtag on the platform yielded a wide array of free goods that were up for grabs, including stationery, cutlery and red packets.

And it's not just individual users who are stepping up.

Local production company Night Owl Cinematics announced on Feb 26 that they were joining the movement and giving away 100 bottles of hand sanitisers and five cartons of wet wipes.

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Soap and handwash brand Lifebuoy has also agreed to donate hand sanitisers as part of the initiative, Carousell said.

The company will be channeling these sanitisers to Project CARE, an organisation that cares for vulnerable elderly in Singapore.

As of today, 1,498 listings have been added as part of the #ChooseToGive movement.

To browse the items on offer, simply look under the Free category or search for #ChooseToGive.

kimberlylim@asiaone.com