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Baltimore, Maryland
2005
The concept of a "free store" developed during Matt Warfield's college days at Towson University, where he and friends would go "dumpster diving" to retrieve discarded but usable items that they then gave to other students.
As an OSI fellow, Warfield has expanded the concept and regularly sets up free stores or markets in neighborhoods throughout Baltimore. Warfield, a former waiter and data processor, accepts donations of household goods, books and toys, which are stored in a large warehouse. He then works closely with community leaders to set up and publicize free markets around the city, which fill a clear need as surveys show that the majority of people who take home items have incomes of less than $5,000. The most popular items: children's books and toys.
But Warfield is most encouraged by how the free stores generate community interest. "The free store is a catalyst for people to get involved in the community," Warfield says. "It's helping build a movement of change."
Read a Baltimore City Paper article about Matt’s work: http://citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=10359.
