About the Free Store Working group
Free Stores are one-day events, typically held three times a year: Spring, Back to School Time (August-ish), and Chilly Weather Time (November-y).
When dates for the Free Store are announced, they’ll show up on our socials, as well as in the “Get involved with the Free Store” section of this page. Links to our socials are at the bottom of the website.
What does working with Free Store look like?
Free Store folks accept and sort donations on the first weekend of every month. They also sometimes meet up separately to sort donated clothing — let us know in slack if you’d like to help out!
If you’d like to repair clothes so they can be offered at the Free Store, check out our friends in the Mending Skillshare working group!
Back to MAMAS Working Groups
Get involved with the Free Store
Slack channels: #free-store
Next steps to get involved:
- Volunteer at our upcoming Free Store Sat., Aug. 22nd, it’s a great way to meet your neighbors while helping your community! There are a variety of ways to help and different shift times available from 7AM-4PM.
- Pre-store tasks include printing/hanging up fliers and soliciting donations for diapers, menstrual products, and guest parking passes.
- Day-of tasks includes help working the store, setting up and breaking down the store, lifting bins and items, and transporting clothes to and from the free store (people with cars appreciated)!
- Donate gently used clothing, shoes, hats, bandanas, and sunglasses during drop-off hours, details listed below! We’re especially looking for sun protection hats, sunglasses, and bandanas for summer! (Drop-off dates are below).
- Help with receiving and sorting clothes donations!
- Right now, we’re in need of storage bins (with lids) and shelving! Email mamasfreestore@gmail.com to coordinate a drop-off.
- Look out for opportunities to deliver bins of clothing donations to partner orgs in #free-store.
Free Store Events:
- [In-person] Clothing drop-offs + sorting parties are now held in both Somerville and Medford!
- Somerville: at Connexion (149 Broadway, Somerville) We will not be collecting donations at Connexion in August because we’re at capacity thanks to our lovely community! They’re typically on the 1st Saturday of every month.
- Medford: at First Community Church (55 Otis Street) on the 2nd Saturday of every month. Next one is Sat. Aug. 8th, 10AM-1PM.
- The next Free Store will be at East Somerville Community School (50 Cross St., Somerville), Sat., Aug 22nd, from 10AM-2PM! Rain date is Sun., Aug. 23rd. If you’d like to volunteer, you can sign up here!
Free Store Team Meetings:
- [Virtual] Free Store Check-in Meeting: Mon., Aug. 3rd, 7-7:45PM. Check in via email (mamasfreestore@gmail.com) or slack for more info!