The Free Store


The store will be closed if there is no volunteer to work, so consider volunteering. Remember think quality, clean dry reusable clothing and household fabrics, no broken toys, ripped books, cracked and leaky crockery.

See photos of the free store under construction by local volunteers at the free store construction gallery page.

 

 

 

Thursday Workers Doreen and Uchi
Your Thursday Freestore workers Doreen Guthrie and Uschi Koebberling have been managing the 1st day of the recycling week for some time. Stepping in shortly before opening time at nine can  be a surprise: sometimes everything sits neatly on the shelves , cloths on hangers are well organized and the drawers  tidy. Other times bags and bags of stuff are piled high inside and in front of the building and overwhelming. Mostly it’s somewhere in between.


We enjoy volunteering at the store, helping people find items they are looking for,  giving the used items another chance to be put to good use, and connecting with the people visiting the store.  Displaying the “what’s that? mystery item du jour? creates lots of laughter and joking and fun conversations. Usually its quiet after opening time for the first couple of hours – best time for un-crowded shopping.   


If time permits we also try to keep the Old Freestore organized. As you shoppers sift through the donations, please don’t scatter the stuff, cloths in particular, on the floor. If they get dirty, they end up the shredder bag, if they get wet, they end up as landfill because the machine can’t handle wet clothes. The same holds true for cloths donated at the new freestore. We really appreciate clean, dry, quality stuff. Please mark stained and un-saleable clothes  to go straight into the bailer bag for shredding.


So come on out, donating and shopping at the Freestore. We love to see you there.

 

Friday Workers Elinor and Lela
Last time I went shopping for clothes in town, I came home with nothing – too expensive, and nothing I really wanted.  I went to work at the Free Store as usual that Friday, and happily found a whole batch of new-to-me fun clothes to start my summer with. Free!


I am so surprised that more people are not lining up to volunteer some time to work here. You get well paid in the treasures you find, over time, and it’s lovely to see those happy faces of “customers” and friends finding treasures too.

The more volunteers we have, the more we can share the work-load.  Leila and I do Fridays together, which means that we can do a 3-hour shift each, overlapping.  Works well!


Opening bags is always fun.  Occasionally we will open one up to find mouldy books, or damp smelly clothing, and we go "ugh!" "Used books" does not mean torn and scribbled-in, and "used toys" do not mean bits of broken plastic.  Like it or not, these things are landfill, and you are just bringing them to us to chuck it away for you. Why?


But on the whole, the stuff you bring in is wonderful, and gratefully accepted.
I work here because I believe our world would be a better place if we passed things around, shared them, bought a little less new "stuff" to clutter up our lives with.


At our Free Store, which is still pretty unique even in this day and age, you can take things home, try them out, enjoy them, or – if you want – bring them back!  Our Returns Policy is very generous!
Have fun!

 


Saturday Worker Judy

Being a relative newcomer to Cortes Island and to the free store where I volunteer one day a week, perhaps I'm still in the honeymoon stage. I really enjoy the comings and goings of people and all of the stuff they bring (and take away). From frilly frocks to worn gum boots or heels no less; from a bright red fleecy, to a filmy negligee. What fun to receive all of your donations and even more fun to see people's delight when they find something that touches their fancy or that really meets their needs.


I'm so grateful to be a part of the Cortesian spirit of goodwill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Workers Joan and Isolde
Isolde (Izzy) and I, Joan are the Sunday volunteers. We love working at the free store and find every Sunday is an adventure. We enjoy watching people find just the thing, a ball gown or a china plate, it’s all treasure.


Sunday is a busy day, the last of our week, if you wish to donate come early so we can get it sorted and on the shelves and not leave a mess for the thursday workers.