Common Ground Free Store is open to all people without judgment or income restrictions. A person’s current financial situation doesn’t always tell the whole story. A divorce, job loss, medical bills, a death of a breadwinner in the family, or a myriad of other factors can affect a person’s ability to fully provide for themselves or their family. When the Free Store provides basic needs and meals for people, they tell us that it helps them pay their rent, utilities, buy food, or buy gas to go to work.
One of the most eye opening conversations we’ve had was with a woman with a professional job, making great money, who kept going to all the free community meals and food pantries in town. By all appearances she didn’t need those resources. Why should she be allowed to take advantage of free resources? It turned out she had a little boy with a congenital heart condition and the medical procedures to save his life took most of what she had. She relied on these amazing agencies to make ends meet.
Common Ground Free Store was created to freely give to our community. We have so many generous donors of material goods that make it possible to provide for the thousands of people who come to us for help every year. Who are we to determine who deserves it or not? And who of any of us doesn’t think it’s awesome when we get something for free? Are there people who may take advantage? Of course, just like any place. But they, too, get to experience unconditional generosity and acceptance, and who knows what difference that could make in their life!
