The Free Store, one of the five main programs provided by Franklin Community Center, is a clothing and household goods distribution center. Community members donate their no longer needed items, including adult and children’s clothing, kitchen essentials, bedding, linens, towels, games, toys, and more and those in need shop for them completely for free.
According to Operations and Free Store Coordinator Ally Dennison, “The Free Store plays a critical role in our community by providing free essential items to people in need. At the same time, it helps donors clear their homes of gently used belongings and diverts a large quantity of items from landfills by creating a reuse pathway”. Each year, the Free Store serves over 8,000 people.
Located at 101 Washington Street in the lower level of a 100+ year old house, the Free Store space was in need of interior upgrades. Dennison noted, “Our neighbors deserve a space that reflects the care and dignity we want to offer them. The Free Store is something rare, a place where donors and shoppers meet in the middle, where generosity becomes tangible and need becomes visible. Investing in this space strengthens that connection, and makes our community a better place to live and work for everyone.”
Due to the generosity of local businesses, volunteers, and supporters, the Free Store underwent a “Makeover Project” between Sunday, May 17th and Friday, May 22nd, overseen by Dennison and Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator Julianna Luciano.
47 volunteers from 6 corporate groups participated – from Ballston Spa National Bank (BSNB), Sherwin Williams, UPS, Saratoga Hilton, Walmart, and Athleta. 17 FCC programmatic volunteers also assisted with the project, including jack of all trades Matt Geleta, who completed many upgrades, including a full renovation of the volunteer bathroom.
In addition to volunteer support, the project benefited from financial and in-kind donations to make the effort possible. BSNB, AYCO Goldman Sachs, and Saratoga Financial Services made financial donations as part of their volunteer projects or community events. Several Free Store volunteers also made generous donations. Paint and painting supplies were donated by Sherwin Williams (Albany) through United Way of the Greater Capital Region’s 518 Day, and The Gap at Crossgates Mall donated 2 display towers and cases of new jewelry to benefit the store.
The project began with the entirety of the Free Store – all inventory, shelving units, and furniture being emptied out of the space and temporarily relocated to FCC’s administrative building. Next, the space was deep cleaned and holes in the walls were spackled and sanded. Following that, all interior walls, doors, and moldings were given a fresh coat of paint. Finally, all of the contents of the Free Store were brought back into the space, and set up in a more efficient and improved way. New shelving units maximized storage and display options, a new layout created a better flow for shoppers, and the paint colors and newly exposed windows brightened the space.
Luciano reflected on the collective efforts of the project by stating, “…the project was a true demonstration of community support, proving that a small group of people can come together and make a difference. The efforts of the volunteers and donors of the project will have a long-lasting impact.”
For Dennison, the project brought about needed change for the people the program serves. She stated, “I see the Free Store’s impact every single day. I think of Mary, who left a domestic violence situation with nothing and decided to give the Free Store a try. She told us she had been close to giving up, but today, she says she has found her happy place. I think of Mark, who walked out of jail with nothing to his name and left the Free Store with a fresh start, and of the man living in a tent who found a cooking pot so he could make chili for his visiting brother. These are our neighbors. The items they find here are necessary to participate in daily life, to show up, and to feel like they belong.”
The Free Store is open for shopping Monday-Friday 9AM-12PM, with no appointment needed to shop. Donations are accepted by online appointment only. Visit https://www.franklincommunitycenter.org/programs/free-store/ to learn more.
