Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Buehner.
Hannah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
(This is part of an article I wrote for our website)
The Pass It On Swap began in a very ordinary way — with kids outgrowing clothes faster than we could keep up, and costs soaring higher every day.
My husband and I have three little boys under five, and like so many families, we were constantly rotating through sizes, seasons, and shoes that only fit for a few months. Not to mention the Christmas shopping that was quickly draining our savings. Even shopping secondhand or at consignment stores, it still added up quickly. At the same time, we had perfectly good items sitting in our home that someone else could use right away, and toys our kids never even touched anymore.
So in December of 2025, we decided to try something simple: invite people to bring children’s items they no longer needed and allow any family to come take what they could use, completely free. We didn’t know what would happen.
Forty families came.
Our small group of helpers sorted and packed over 30 bags of clothing, toys, and baby supplies. What we saw that day was more than just an exchange of things — it was relief for parents, excitement for kids, and a community showing up for one another.
That experience became The Pass It On Swap.
Our hope is simple: help families spend less, serve more, and keep usable children’s items in our community instead of in landfills. We believe small acts of generosity, repeated together, can make a lasting difference.
Now, we’ve helped over 100 families through our latest event, helping them obtain much-needed clothing, shoes, toys, books, diapers, and baby essentials!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. My husband and I are both students, and we’re raising our three young kids while building Pass-It-On Swap. In the beginning, we simply decided to do what we could ourselves and trust that we could grow more over time.
I also had to learn a lot from scratch — things like building our website, creating our branding, and managing the organizational side of things. Balancing family life, school, and growing a community initiative has been challenging at times, but it’s also been incredibly rewarding.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
’m first and foremost most proud of being a full-time stay-at-home mom to my children. Family has always been at the center of everything I do, and a lot of my work and creativity has grown out of that season of life.
Professionally, I’m a graphic designer and run my Etsy shop, Bumblebee Banners and Prints, where I create missionary banners, posters, and other custom designs. I’m also a published author — I wrote the cookbook More Than Ramen as well as the In His Service missionary journal series.
Over the years, I’ve also worked as an Instagram influencer and Amazon affiliate, partnering with brands and sharing products that help make family life easier and more meaningful. I also make and sell homemade vanilla extract.
I think what ties everything together is that most of what I create comes from everyday life and a desire to help people in some way. Whether it’s through design, writing, or community projects like Pass-It-On Swap, I’ve always loved creating things that are practical, meaningful, and encouraging for others.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
One piece of advice I would give is something I’ve heard from one of my favorite humanitarians, Sharon Eubank: “You are most powerful where you live.”
I think the hardest part of getting started is feeling like everything has to be huge, perfectly organized, or fully figured out before you begin. In reality, what you can do right now is enough. Starting small still matters.
Once you decide to take that first leap, you learn and improve along the way. Every experience builds on the last, and over time, those slight efforts can grow into something much bigger than you originally imagined.
Pricing:
- Our events are completely free, and require zero qualifications to participate!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.passitonswap.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepassitonswap/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588647273589
