For me, the most difficult task when faced with a move or tackling a spring cleaning is deciding what to get rid of — I hate throwing perfectly good items in the trash. But let's face it, during those hectic days, who can find the extra time for a yard sale? And while other avenues like Craigslist or Freecycle have come in handy to unload an item or two, they can prove to be just as time consuming. That's where Baltimore's Free Store comes into play.
The Free Store's mission is simple; they collect unwanted goods and redistribute them to people that want them. By doing this small act, they hope to empower individuals to help create sustainable and cooperative communities, while also keeping waste from landfills. Unlike Goodwill or the Salvation Army that sell their donations (which means if they don't sell, your donated items often still end up in the trash), the Free Store is not a business that relies on making a profit to survive. Instead, they focus their energy on gathering donations and then holding free markets around the city. While they do tend to target low-income neighborhoods to distribute the goods to, anyone is welcome to shop at the Free Markets. Currently they operate from a warehouse, but are in the process of finding a permanent storefront to move into.
So go ahead, collect your clutter and downsize; the Free Store is there to help you do so responsibly. For directions to their warehouse, or to find donation days or free market events, click here.
If any readers know of similar organizations in their city, feel free to share them in the comments section.
(Images: Kimberly Watson)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Another option is to donate to Goodwill, Salvation Army and other organizations that run thrift & resale stores.
view dmh's profile
That is incredibly awesome!!! i'd love to do that here in Jersey City. I have furnished half of my apartment with the stuff i have found being thrown away in this city alone. I have been amazed, since moving here from San Diego 4 years ago, at the rampant consumerism in the NYC metro area that makes someone feel "ok" about tossing something that can easily be used by someone else. I just don't get it, i guess it's just less of a hassle for folks to toss it. Such a shame.
first order of business... who has a truck and a warehouse in JC to put towards this???
view ubertimmo's profile
Hamburg, Germany, has one: http://www.ak-loek.de/Umsonstladen/HomePage
And if you search for Umsonstladen you'll find a list of more in Germany.
The one in Hamburg requests that you take only three things at a time. Since I'm mostly decluttering anyway, that works just fine. I put bigger pieces on Craigslist (so the recipients can carry them away) and take bags of miscellaneous stuff to the Umsonstladen (so I don't have to coordinate meeting someone as with CL).
view morfydd's profile
Awesome! Another idea that is on a smaller scale is to establish a "free" table if you live in an apartment building with a community garbage/recycling room, or even in the laundry room. I live in NYC and ours is in our laundry room. People put anything they don't want anymore but is still useful- books, magazines, household items, toys, cds. It's really caught on in my building and I've gotten lots of picture frames and books.
view newyorkdoll7's profile
love it! haven't seen this since long ago in a galaxy far away in Haight Ashbury.
view Chloe C's profile
I have given many things to the Baltimore Free Store--the folks who run it are great. They explain in their literature that many of the things we donate to Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. actually get thrown away if they don't sell or if they just don't have the room for them. I don't know for certain that this happens, but I admire the Free Store's commitment to finding a use for everything they receive.
How about a post on Baltimore's The Book Thing next? (http://www.bookthing.org/) It's the same concept but with books. Maybe Bmore is the next Haight Ashbury ;)
view flappable's profile
newyorkdoll7 - What a great idea! If I still lived in an apartment building, I think I'd have to start my own "free table". And ubertimmo, I say give it a whirl in Jersey City. You could start small - or perhaps talk to someone at B-more's Free Store... maybe they would have advice about how to start one in your city? It only takes one person to start a movement!
Kimber - ATDC
view KimberM's profile
You can also use freecycle.org.
view alexis's profile
Like it said in the post, while Goodwill & Salvation Army are indisputably the "originals" when it comes to this, they often end up throwing away donated goods. I wasn't aware of this before I recently found out more about the Free Store's objective. I now think I'll start donating there instead.
However, it is also commendable that Goodwill provides job training & education for disadvantaged people. Hmmmm, maybe Goodwill and SA could start funneling the items that they're going to throw away to the Free Store instead!
view Gregorio's profile
Actually Hamburg, Germany has at least a second one in Harburg, which I recently read about in the paper. It has the same 3-pieces-only policy like the other one mentioned above.
Here's a link: http://www.harburg21.de/de/aktuelles/eroeffnung umsonstladen harburg.html
view prue's profile
I live in Richmond VA and some friends of mine throw a "Really Really Free Market" on the last Saturday of every month in Monroe Park. Anything that's left over at the end of the day, they take to a local LGBTQ thrift store called Diversity.
view rvalexa's profile
Rvalexa -- Diversity is a great thrift store!
view madampince's profile
p.s. I know the Baltimore Free Store is ALWAYS looking for volunteers for the market events. Just an FYI
tasteofbaltimore.blogspot.com
view MiniEnglishRose's profile
there's also one on Hornby Island, BC.
http://www.hirra.ca/Recycle/
view tanis's profile
Very cool! I never knew about this!
view Christine (the one in DC)'s profile