On the shelf now:
Free-quently Asked Questions
Where did all this stuff come from?
It’s mostly donated from Blue Heron volunteers, groups who rent space in AKA, and visitors.
So I can just take stuff?
Yes!
But what if there’s someone else who needs it more?
The Free Store is for everyone and it’s first come, first served. Feel free to spread the word that it’s here to anyone you think could benefit.
Can I bring stuff to donate?
Sure, but space is very limited. Please don’t bring more than what can fit on the shelves. We can’t accept as much as a full-sized thrift store — up to one grocery bag of stuff is a reasonable amount.
How do I donate?
You can bring something to donate when Blue Heron is open. Go ahead and place your donations on the shelf or rack yourself — and take something to make some room if you like!
What are some good items to donate?
The ideal Free Store item is immediately useful to somebody else without needing any repair or alteration.
Unused toiletries, small hand tools, working electronics, unopened and unexpired food items, crafting supplies, and small appliances are all popular items. You can also bring things you’ve made, like stickers, zines, event flyers, etc.
And if anyone has a nice sturdy shelf they’d like to donate that we can use to replace the current Free Store shelf, please get in touch!
What shouldn’t I bring to donate?
Clothing that is stained or damaged beyond repair, obsolete tech/media, unidentified bits and pieces of things, or anything that poses an obvious health risk (i.e. anything moldy, sharp, or that may have been inside someone 😳). These sorts of things will generally have to be tossed.