We at Free Change believe that every one of us has the power to change our world. We recognize that before we can change the world, we must transform communities—and in order to accomplish this, people must begin to care about themselves and the people around them.
It is evident that every individual plays an important role within their community, that every person is valuable and contributes to its state. It is important to remember that in order for it to succeed, we must band together and work to help improve every individual’s life. We can no longer afford to ignore those who need us most.
Locals attend Free Change's Free Store in Detroit
Since 2005, Free Change has run Free Stores in Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, and Romulus, Michigan. Free Stores are events in which food, household necessities, and services are made available to visitors at no cost. Everything that is available at the Free Store is donated and the operation is facilitated by volunteers.
After having set up Free Stores on a weekly and monthly basis around Metro Detroit for four years, our goal is to obtain a building so that we can start running our Free Store program on a more frequent basis, be a steady resource to our targeted community, and expand operations. As the community utilizes the Free Store resource, we plan on developing other programs around the needs and talents of the community, ultimately developing our organization into a cooperative so that everyone who benefits from the Free Store or Free Change programs would give back by donating time or talents so that our organization can expand and reflect the community.
In order to make the Free Store events successful we ask that the following rules are respected so that we can continue to use this facility and share things with those who need them.
1. Email us - freedetroit@hotmail.com (preferred method) or call us: Cathy @ 734-326-5879 (not preferred, but I know some folks don’t have internet access) ONLY! Rudgate, the place who owns the facility we use, has been getting calls and they don’t appreciate it - it is not their job or responsibility to answer questions about the Free Store – please refer folks to us before Rudgate gets fed up and pulls the plug.
2. Etiquette. Last month, folks were loitering in the parking lot, blocking mail boxes so they were unavailable to residents and displayed some rude behavior. Arrive no earlier than 5:15 (there is no early access for shoppers) and to make their presence as small as possible so they don’t interrupt the day-to-day activites of the community.
3. Shoppers must maintain control over their own children!
4. Donations can be dropped off from 1:30pm until 5pm Wednesday thru Friday this week at the site of the Free Store. If you want to volunteer, we will be setting up as of 3:00pm Friday and can use help setting up and tearing down, as well as during the store. If you wish to volunteer Friday and will be there before 5:30pm, please let us know in advance – it makes it a lot easier to plan things that way.
With the winter coming, I’d appreciate it so much if you’d all check your closets for coats, jackets and other winter wear that you no longer use, as well as blankets, etc. In addition, MANY people have come in asking for FOOD. Although this has not been our primary focus, it IS a primary concern and times are getting really tough, no matter what the economists may say about recovery! Donations of food, etc., are wonderful and appreciated as well.
Thank you all for your support – hope to see you at the Free Store some time soon!
