OUR HISTORY
The 518 Free Store was born from a small, free community giveaway held August, 2020. With an idea to learn and use “extreme couponing” to secure and distribute basic necessities to local BIPOC & LGBTQ+ individuals suffering the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately, Shalonda Faircloth crowdfunded $500 to create and distribute 50 “care packages'' at Jerry Burrell Park in Schenectady, NY. Recognizing the immense potential of utilizing coupons to increase buying capacity and starting with two shelves in her basement, she founded the 518 Free Store in October 2020. Informed by her own lived experience navigating poverty and food insecurity in Schenectady, and a first hand knowledge of the colonizer harm that is prevalent in traditional aid programs, the 518 Free Store aimed to gain the community’s trust as a non-invasive, accessible, and culturally conscious aid program. In its early stages, the 518 Free Store offered only hygiene and household items, but quickly expanded operations to include food items to fill a need our community was communicating had been left unmet. Through open communication the 518 Free Store continues to expand and improve our program to reflect the needs of the people it serves.
518 FREE STORE MEMBERSHIPS
The 518 Free Store offers a program that affords members a typical retail shopping experience, for free.
Members are provided a list of essential items that they can choose from, not only eliminating waste (a common byproduct of the food pantry experience) but empowering its members through personal choice. Differing from traditional direct service programs, the 518 Free Store works with its members to respond to the community's needs, seeking out products requested directly by members (i.e dietary restrictions, food allergies, culturally appropriate) cultivating a culture of respect and autonomy. The 518 Free Store does not dictate what a person needs but works with people to find out what works for them, eliminating the harm of the "one size fits all" operation and culture of traditional direct service programs. In an effort to combat the transportation issues that make it difficult for many residents to access healthy food and other basic necessities, 518 Free Store members do not have to travel to a physical location to access goods. The 518 Free Store delivers their items to them. They arrive in nondescript bags, in a timely, scheduled, and contactless (read: safe) manner. 518 Free Store members have reported saving as much as $500 a month in their first month of membership with the 518 Free Store, allowing them to shift newly freed funds to other structural and social determinants of health. The importance of this program is further highlighted as we are in an extremely high inflationary period that has exacerbated the economic hardships of local BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ MaGes. 518 Free Store memberships fill an unfortunately common gap between aid and need for many marginalized individuals in Schenectady, NY.
MUTUAL AID & ORGANIZING
518 Free Store social pages activate and encourage action-driven politics in allies, while engaging our community and serving as a platform to organize and distribute life saving emergency funds for local BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ MaGeS. Both historically and currently marginalized communities have been and are being oppressed by people in power, and face some of the most egregious poverty, and food insecurity.
Marginalized communities have historically come together in solidarity and mutual understanding to keep each other safe when and where systems of power fail them. For this reason mutual aid has always existed. Georgia Gilmore’s ‘Club From Nowhere’ fed and funded the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Black Panthers ‘Free Breakfast for Children Program’ improved children's ability to learn by alleviating hunger and The Alianza Hispano-Americana provided a defense fund to victims of injustice in the 1920’s.
Today, mutual aid still remains a testament to the power of collective action, and the people’s ability to keep each other safe.
HALLOWEEN COSTUME DRIVE
WINTER HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE
HALLOWEEN COSTUME DRIVE
Every October, the 518 Free Store honors the autonomy and worth of local marginalized children by providing funding for NEW Halloween costumes. For local children this allows the celebration of fantasy without the restraints of capitalism, and removes the financial burden of the holiday for parents.
For both children and parents it restores faith in community, and perpetuates the idea that people deserve quality care and support no matter their socioeconomic status.
BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE
WINTER HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE
HALLOWEEN COSTUME DRIVE
Every September, the 518 Free Store organizes a local effort to supply local children with school supplies, backpacks, and snacks to begin the school year. We recognized that education is not “THE GREAT EQUALIZER”. Children that do not have equitable access to learning supplies start their school year at a disadvantage. Through this initiative the 518 Free Store is able to ensure that local marginalized children have the necessary tools for a successful school year.
WINTER HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE
WINTER HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE
WINTER HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE
Every December, the 518 Free Store hosts a ‘Winter Holiday Gift Drive’ where we offer gifts, funds, and sponsorships to local BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ families with children. This is our most impactful initiative with the potential to provide holiday support to families and children who would otherwise go without. During this initiative the 518 Free Store acts as a platform to connect local marginalized families with generous supporters who recognize the atrocities of capitalism and wish to effect change through action-driven politics and solidarity.