Who Comes to the FreeStore? Do I belong?
Everyone comes. Everyone has needs and everyone has something to give. And this is the place to exchange, talk, meet new friends, laugh, and participate in the life of your town. Some people have more things to give than others, some less. Some have more time and talent to give, and some have less. Some have money to give, and some don't. But everyone comes to the Store.
We have college kids, working families, stay-at-home parents, business owners, and retired people who are downsizing. People with children, people without children. People who have great need and people who have very little need. People in transition in their lives. People who are stable in their lives, but know that they have too much and it is a burden. People who like to browse thrift stores (and people who don't -- usually men, but they like our tool section, so yeah...even them.)
Everyone, however, is asked to both give and take. Hoarding and reselling behavior is highly discouraged. We ask that everyone be mindful of the idea that this is an exchange of relationships as well as things, and that establishing yourself as merely a "taker" (without giving of your time, energy, or other gifts that you might have at some point) without consideration of others' needs isn't really in the spirit of the community.
We have college kids, working families, stay-at-home parents, business owners, and retired people who are downsizing. People with children, people without children. People who have great need and people who have very little need. People in transition in their lives. People who are stable in their lives, but know that they have too much and it is a burden. People who like to browse thrift stores (and people who don't -- usually men, but they like our tool section, so yeah...even them.)
Everyone, however, is asked to both give and take. Hoarding and reselling behavior is highly discouraged. We ask that everyone be mindful of the idea that this is an exchange of relationships as well as things, and that establishing yourself as merely a "taker" (without giving of your time, energy, or other gifts that you might have at some point) without consideration of others' needs isn't really in the spirit of the community.
