I have some 12V 5~7AH gel- cells well past 5 years old. Spiffy for LEDs and testing stuff. That is what I use in the house.
Not good for long term storage because of age, or power because of size.
Mine were removed from service from big-box store cash registers.
Great for solar night lights, etc.
"Give away" means free, right?
Free is good. I like free. I bought mine.
A VW panel, a few LEDs, a CDS cell, Ta-Da!
Cheap and workable nightlight. Reading light. Etc.
And wally-world gives me core charge, regardless of AH, for battery purchases.
Give wally 2, 12V, 7AH batteries for 2, 6V 220AH batteries. Feels good.
Sometimes you have to say 'Here is the core.' The guy doesn't care, a core is a core. Some places may even pay cash for the core.
'Dry Cells'. I haven't seen one for 30 years. Giant 8x3" toilet paper tube with 2 bolts on top. Not rechargable. Pretty sure they were at K-Mart at the time.
Think big, non-alkaline, nonrechargable, D battery, made of paper.