Kindness, care, and pride — restored one community shelf at a time.
Born out of the pandemic, The Free Store Project was created to fight inequality, reduce waste, and rebuild hope — one neighborhood at a time. Our freestanding “alt-markets” are open to the public 24/7, providing free access to clothing, food, books, and everyday essentials in a dignified way. No questions, no red tape — just community care in action.
The concept is simple:
Take what you need.
Give when you can.
Everyone is welcome.
What We’ve Accomplished
In just one year, with no paid staff and pure community effort, we’ve:
Built 11 Free Stores across NYC and helped inspire 6 more statewide
Distributed 1,200+ school supply packs to local students
Provided thousands of coats, blankets, and sleeping bags to unhoused neighbors
Redirected countless goods from landfills into loving homes
Partnered with local grocers and brands to stock shelves with baby food, hygiene products, and pantry staples
Shared 1,200+ donated books with libraries, shelters, and literacy programs
Delivered 8,400+ handmade masks during the height of the pandemic
Brought together 174 volunteers and counting
Every number tells a story — but the real impact is how these shelves create connection, dignity, and pride across our neighborhoods.
Why We Need Your Help
Our Free Stores are open 24/7, outdoors, and run entirely by volunteers. That means weather, wear, and constant use take their toll. While we’re experts at upcycling and resourcefulness, even sustainability has costs.
Your donation helps us:
Restock essential items like food, hygiene supplies, and baby products
Repair and weatherproof Free Store structures
Build new Free Stores in under-resourced areas
Sustain our storage and operations space
Keep community shelves safe, clean, and full
This work can’t run on elbow grease alone — but with your help, it can run on love, resilience, and shared purpose.
Every Dollar Counts
Your contribution directly supports neighbors in need — no middleman, no bureaucracy.
✨ $10 restocks hygiene essentials
✨ $25 fills a shelf with pantry staples
✨ $50 funds repairs to a community Free Store
✨ $100 helps us build new shelves in a new neighborhood
Donations are tax deductible, and every gift — big or small — makes a real impact.
Our Mission
The Free Store Project exists to counter apathy, excess, and inequality by creating public spaces of generosity and trust. There are no patrons — only participants. Together, we’re building a sustainable framework that strengthens communities, reduces waste, and reminds us what it means to care for one another.
Because when we share what we have, everyone has enough.
Because Free Stores are forever.
💛 Donate today and help us keep New York’s community shelves full.