Free Store needs your help
Belinda MacKeigan Woods, the operator of the Free Store, said the need for the store is growing, and so are its expenses.
SUMMERSIDE – It’s a cold Saturday morning, and, despite hours to go before opening, a crowd of more than 200 has lined up in the parking lot in hopes of accessing Summerside’s Free Store.
“Parents are outside come rain, snow, or freezing temperatures with their kids. There’s a dire need in this community,” said Jennafer Lynch-Bernard, a volunteer at the store.
“We don’t know what life can throw at us. Outside of volunteering at the Free Store on Tuesday evenings, I work full-time at my electrical business, but it wasn’t always this way for me. We should never take for granted what the Free Store offers,” she continued.
Lynch-Bernard struggled to provide as a single parent before meeting her husband.
“I remind my son this could have been us if we never had support. Sometimes I bring my son along to the store as a volunteer to give back to our community. This experience has opened his eyes. There are so many kids in need of winter clothes, shoes, and even bedding.”
To make the Free Store feel less cramped and more organic, Lynch-Bernard donated and installed shelving units, baskets, and containers from her business.
“After a few weeks of volunteering, I saw what needed improvement. Customers struggled to search through the folded clothes or baskets, so I approached Belinda (MacKeigan-Woods) to make some changes that would give people a dignified shopping experience in a 15-minute slot.
Clothing is divided by gender and size. Footwear is shelved, games are boxed and marked, books are categorized, toys are in full display, and aisles are free and easy to navigate.
“Customers feel appreciated, and this saves the volunteers time cleaning after,” she added.
MacKeigan-Woods, the operator of the Free Store, said the need for the store is growing, and so are its expenses.
“Like most of the volunteers, we work full-time, so to keep this store afloat, we rely on the generosity of the public to replenish stocks. There are money and time constraints that go into keeping this store running effectively,” she said.
“We’re hoping to get the Free Store registered with charity status, so we can apply for funding to secure this store’s future. Someday I plan to retire, and I worry about the future of this store without this charitable status,” added MacKeigan-Woods.
The past and the present provincial government have provided the space located at 109 Water Street, as well as the storage facility offsite.
MacKeigan-Woods is aiming to raise $1,000 for immediate expenses that include insurance policies for both locations.
The Free Store has an account with the National Bank (290 Water Street), where donations can be dropped, or made online at their GoFundMe page. As of midafternoon on Jan. 28, the GoFundMe account had collected about half of the $1,000 goal.
To donate go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/freestore-needs-your-help.