Volunteers and Volunteering at the FreeStore. How can I be of Service?
Anyone can volunteer to sit the FreeStore, but we do ask that you sign up in our volunteer system and go through an informal "training" with one of our experienced volunteers. This usually means pairing up on a shift with another volunteer who "knows the ropes."
We also would like volunteers to be part of our Facebook group. In this way you can see the daily interactions, the problem-solving, the community effort that is at work here, and feel part of it -- even before sitting the Store for the first time.
Care-givers with children are welcome at the FreeStore. There is a place for children to play, and usually they are quite content to do so. Shifts are usually 2 hours long, and you can sign up for more than one at a time if you like.
The Free Store is open Monday 12:00 - 4:00, Wednesday 12:00 - 4:00, Friday 12:00 - 4:00, Saturday 10:00 - 4:00, and Sunday 12:00 - 6:00. These times are approximate according to volunteer's schedules. The address and more information can be found here.
Any volunteer who is a member of Timebank Media will receive time dollars for their hours at the Store or for any volunteering that helps the Store. If you are not a member of the Timebank, but would like to find out more, you can do so here.
A note of caution: Volunteers at the FreeStore are there to keep the doors open and to organize within the Store if they feel called to do so. They cannot help you, most of the time, carry items to/from your car, shelve items for you, pack/wrap your items; often our volunteers have physical challenges that preclude this kind of help, or they may be the only person sitting the store, or they may have children with them. Come prepared to have a "self-service" experience. And if you need special assistance for some reason, a smile, a "please," and a "thank you" go a very long way.
We also would like volunteers to be part of our Facebook group. In this way you can see the daily interactions, the problem-solving, the community effort that is at work here, and feel part of it -- even before sitting the Store for the first time.
Care-givers with children are welcome at the FreeStore. There is a place for children to play, and usually they are quite content to do so. Shifts are usually 2 hours long, and you can sign up for more than one at a time if you like.
The Free Store is open Monday 12:00 - 4:00, Wednesday 12:00 - 4:00, Friday 12:00 - 4:00, Saturday 10:00 - 4:00, and Sunday 12:00 - 6:00. These times are approximate according to volunteer's schedules. The address and more information can be found here.
Any volunteer who is a member of Timebank Media will receive time dollars for their hours at the Store or for any volunteering that helps the Store. If you are not a member of the Timebank, but would like to find out more, you can do so here.
A note of caution: Volunteers at the FreeStore are there to keep the doors open and to organize within the Store if they feel called to do so. They cannot help you, most of the time, carry items to/from your car, shelve items for you, pack/wrap your items; often our volunteers have physical challenges that preclude this kind of help, or they may be the only person sitting the store, or they may have children with them. Come prepared to have a "self-service" experience. And if you need special assistance for some reason, a smile, a "please," and a "thank you" go a very long way.