Story #8 (Final Story)

The Store where everything really is FREE

BSU Students donate to and shop at the ‘Free Store’

By Rhea Wawrzyniak

Word Count: 914  



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

The entrance to the “Free Store” is located
 in the back left corner of the Sustainability
 Office and Excellence in Leadership Center
 where the “Free Store” and “Suit Yourself”
share a room.



Students need to pay for more than the classes they take. There are a lot of other expenses when it comes to getting a college education, including books, folders, notebooks, writing utensils, computer, clothing, and a place to stay just to name a few.  

There is a resource on campus where students can get some of these things for free. The “Free Store” is located in the back left corner of the Sustainability Office and Excellence in Leadership Center, where they share space with “Suit Yourself”.

The hand written sign above the wooden door entrance reads “Free Store” in red and “Suit Yourself” in green. The room takes the form of an “L”. The “Free Store” comes first and consists of counters and cabinets filled with supplies for school. Exploring more into the room is racks of clothing for “Suit Yourself”.     



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

Before leaving the “Free Store” students
write the date and the item they took.



At “Suit Yourself” students, men or women can take business suits for free. When “Suit Yourself” was getting started they had to build their own coat racks using wires, belts and wood blocks, and some are still there today.

The “Free Store” opened last February after BSU senior Crystal Rayamajhi was inspired by an article about a California student who collected items around campus and brought them to a warehouse where students could shop for free.

Rayamajhi’s idea came to life at BSU with the help of Mary Tosch, associate director of Hobson Memorial Union. “People were supportive,” said Rayamajhi, “It was not that hard to get going.”

After cleaning out the space, and putting cabinets in, BSU had a functional “Free Store”. In the wooden cabinets are glasses, cooking items, Tupperware, vases, kitchen utensils, holiday decorations, electronics, writing utensils, office supplies, and a few miscellaneous drawers. Across the back of the light colored counter are folders and blue three-ring binders. To the left of the entrance a wooden bookshelf holds donated books.      



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

Many people donate used folders
and binders to the “Free Store”.



One of the craziest things brought in was a duffle bag filled with pencils that had furry heads with glued on eyes. Rayamajhi was not sure who would want these, but a week later half of them were gone. “You just never know what someone may find useful,” said Rayamajhi.  



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

People donate used books to the “Free Store”.



Rayamajhi said that most students want to bring in clothing. The store has taken some in the past, but they encourage students to bring clothes to goodwill, they just don’t have room. If people want to donate worn clothes they can cut them into rags first and the store will use them that way. “If you would not feel good about giving something to your friend, don’t donate it,” said Rayamajhi.

Rayamajhi wishes that more students would donate microwaves and small refrigerators because those items are sometimes hard to transport and very useful in dorms.



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

Dishware small and large is
donated to the “Free Store”.



The notebooks are items that sell fast at the beginning of the year. Rayamajhi would like to see more notebooks, calculators, pens, and pencils donated. “Some people have a hard time paying for school,” said Rayamajhi. “If we can offer some of these items, that can shave off a little of the expenses.”



“Books are expensive,” said Brett Jasperse, BSU sophomore. “It is nice to be able to stop by and get free notebooks or folders for class.”  

There is no record of things that have been donated, but when students take items they write the date and what they took on a sheet of notebook paper. So far, there have been 2,247 items given away.



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

A popular donated item, writing utensils, fill a drawer in the “Free Store”. 



There is always a time to donate. Students can drop off items anytime in the sustainability office, across from the BSU bookstore, or just leave them by the door and they will get picked up in the morning by the sustainability staff who maintains the “Free Store”. The “Free Store” will also put out “Donate Don’t Dumpster” bin in the dorms, which are designed to reduce waste during move-out. Also, jute bags are given away to students who donate while the supplies last.  



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

“Suit Yourself” clothes, where you can suit
yourself for free to get to kick off their careers.  



Donating is not just for the students, but for faculty, staff and administrations at BSU. “We really appreciate everyone’s efforts to donate to the ‘Free Store’,” said Rayamajhi. “It is a cool way to see the BSU community come together.” 



Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. is when the “Free Store” was open this semester, and next semesters hours will change as Rayamajhi’s schedule changes.



Rayamajhi’s favorite thing about the “Free Store” is that is reduces waste and helps students. She believes that the store is successful, “We have had a lot of people come through the store, and we have given away a lot of items.”