Last updated: March 12, 2026

Neighborhood Freebies Privacy Policy

Neighborhood Freebies (the “App”) helps neighbors post and discover free items nearby. This policy explains what information the App handles, how it is used, and your choices.

1) Information We Collect

Account identifier: a Firebase Authentication user ID (often anonymous) used to identify your app session/account.
Profile information: first name, last initial, address, latitude, and longitude when you set up your profile.
Post content: title, description, photos you upload, location coordinates, optional expiration time, and requester IDs.
Messages: messages sent between users about posts, including sender/recipient IDs, post ID, message text, and timestamps.
Push notification data: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) token(s), platform, and notification metadata required to deliver alerts.
Address lookup inputs: address search text, place IDs, and session tokens sent to our backend proxy for Google Places lookup.
Advertising data: Google Mobile Ads (AdMob) may collect device/app identifiers and usage signals per Google’s policies.

2) How We Use Information

Provide core app features (profiles, posting, browsing, requesting, and messaging).
Show nearby freebies using location coordinates.
Deliver push notifications for new nearby posts, new messages, and post requests.
Store and serve uploaded post images.
Resolve typed addresses to validated addresses/coordinates through Google Places APIs.
Display ads and support app monetization through AdMob.

3) Where Data Is Stored and Processed

We use Google Firebase services, including Authentication, Firestore, Cloud Storage, Cloud Functions, and Cloud Messaging. Data may be processed on Google Cloud infrastructure in regions selected for our Firebase project.

4) Sharing and Disclosure

We share data with service providers required to operate the App (for example, Google Firebase, Google Places, and AdMob).
We do not sell your personal information.
We may disclose information when required by law or to protect users, the App, or the public.

5) Notifications and Messaging

We store FCM token documents under your user record to send notifications. Invalid tokens may be removed automatically. Message notifications can include sender first name and last initial (for example, "Alex R") and a preview of message text. This name format is shared only when you communicate with nearby neighbors in posts/messages and is used to enhance privacy.

6) Location Data

The App uses coordinates you provide (directly or via address lookup) to calculate nearby content and notifications. Your address/location is not shared with other users. If you do not provide location, some nearby/freebie features will not work.

7) Data Retention

Profile, post, message, and token records are retained while needed to operate the App or until removed.
When a post is deleted, associated post images and related conversations/messages are cleaned up by backend processes.
Some local app data is cached on your device to improve performance.

8) Your Choices

You can edit or remove posted content from within the App where available.
You can disable notifications in your device settings.
You can stop using the App at any time and uninstall it.

8A) Account Deletion

To request deletion of your account and associated data, use our account deletion instructions page: Neighborhood Freebies Account Deletion.

9) Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational safeguards appropriate to the App’s size and architecture. No method of transmission or storage is guaranteed to be 100% secure.

10) Children’s Privacy

This App is intended only for users who are 18 years of age or older. Individuals under 18 are not permitted to use the App so minors do not interact with adult neighbors without a parent or legal guardian’s permission and supervision.

11) Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Material updates will be reflected by revising the “Last updated” date above.

12) Contact

Third-party policies: Google Privacy Policy and Firebase Privacy and Security.