After a successful test run just before the holidays, the 500 Stephen Community Centre is launching a new program to support those in need.
Kevin Driedger at 500 Stephen Community Centre with some of the items they’ve had donated to their new Community Free Store
The Community Free Store will run once a month at the downtown centre, providing individuals and families who could use a helping hand with access to a range of small necessities at no cost.
It all started, explains executive director Kevin Driedger, thanks to the generosity of local residents.
“The Barnswallow Quilt Guild had their holiday event here and they all brought various personal items to donate for us to give out,” he said. “And actually other people had been bringing us things as well. People were really concerned about the homeless in our community and so they made bags filled with stuff for us to hand out. Soap, shampoo, conditioner, hand lotions, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, as well as some socks and mittens—it was a little bit of everything.”
The community centre hosts the Morden Community Food Bank distribution every Wednesday afternoon, so Driedger put some of the donated items out for patrons to peruse and grab two or three per person.
It was such a hit that they’re going to keep it going for the next few months, and perhaps beyond.
“At least until summer—we’ll see how it goes, see what sort of community response we get, because this is very dependent on the community,” Driedger said, explaining they can only offer what people are willing to donate to keep the free store operating.
They’ve put a call out for bar soap, small-size shampoos, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, hand/skin lotions, deodorant, toothbrushes, wet wipe, small packages of facial tissues, socks, mittens, and scarves. Due to limited space, they are not accepting larger clothing items (parkas/boots). Nor are they accepting donations of mouthwash.
Donations can be dropped off at 500 Stephen weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
“This gives an opportunity to the community, a very simple way to help support others,” Driedger says. “It’s very much about the community supporting the community.”
Already, Mordenites have responded.
“Just today someone came with a bag full of things because they saw our post about it on Facebook,” Driedger shared.
The store will be open for people to shop at the same hours as the food bank on the last Wednesday of every month. The next day will be Jan. 28.
There’s no need to register or prove need to pick up a couple items from the store.
“They just have to identify themselves as having a need,” Driedger said. “We’re not going to screen or judge anyone’s worthiness of this … if the worst thing is someone who doesn’t need some toothpaste gets some, so be it.”
There will be limits on how many items and of what type individuals can take, though, to ensure there’s variety left for everyone.
The first store day was met with great enthusiasm from patrons.
“One mother of a young child saw that there was some baby shampoo in there, and she was so excited to get some of that because she had such a young child,” Driedger shared.
The food bank has certainly seen its numbers grow of late, often hitting record highs.
“Through our partners that we work with, we hear again and again of the need for really all kinds of supports,” Driedger said. “There’s a lot of people in our community who are struggling, so any little thing, any little show of support can make a big difference.
“I really hope the community sees this as another way that they can provide some concrete help to those who need it.”
