The new Free Store is up and running and so far it is turning out to be a great success. Every day we bring another 10 boxes or so to the store and they are gone before the store closes. Funny thing though, no matter how much stuff we bring, there is always a hundred times more stuff waiting for us in our storage rooms. Sometimes it feels like a battle that can't be won. When you are trying to reduce the amount of things people consume, there is a tidal wave of entrenched conditioning to overcome. Think about it; every commercial is designed to get you to want something new. The first day of school means you need a new outfit. Going to a wedding means buying a new outfit. Want to take up yoga? New outfit. Want to turn over a new leaf.... new stuff is needed for that too. It seems that every time you want to do something new or different, or if want to mark an occasion or celebrate something, there is an understanding that a purchase is in order. And in case you aren't co...

When people say Humane Society you automatically know what they are talking about. You know that place where they care for lost and abandoned animals. You would never imagine the work and supplies that they require, as well as the supplies needed to care for the animals themselves. Places such as the Humane Society receive funding for particular things, but not others. I was shocked to find that they do not receive funding for office supplies such as files and binders. All of us at the Free Store are well aware that we have a large amount of binders that are just looking for a home. So, we took a little trip to the Humane Society and donated 50 binders to them. This goes along with 9 boxes of file folders that we donated to them last month. By doing this, they are able to save funds for office supplies, and puts it towards the most important thing: providing the best care for the animals. ~ michaela - free store coordinator photo credit - jonathan rausseo