Free Stores and Sharing Corners had become more well-known during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic but they’ve been in existence for years. The premise is simple: create a space in a publicly accessible spot where people can give what they can and take what they need! Organizers share a common philosophy: that there are more than enough goods to go around and scarcity should not be an issue.
Some free stores and sharing corners are themed depending on what community needs might be. You’ll want to create a team of volunteers to keep the area organized and help manage donations. You may have a section for food, a section for toiletry items, diapers, toys, books, clothes, etc. Organizers may also want to create some community guidelines. List your sharing corner or Free Store on Google Maps and Yelp so that people can easily find it!
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Learn More
| How to Start a Free Store | The Free Store Project |
|---|---|
| A List of Commonly Requested Items | Resources from Mutual Aid Free Support |
| The Rise of the Sharing Shed | NY Times Interactive Article |
