If it’s clean, in working order and will bless somebody then it’s probably going to be available. And if it’s available, it’s free.
It’s really that simple.
Empowered by stories of successful “free stores” nationwide, including the Church For All People Free Store in Columbus, Ohio which was highlighted at West Michigan Annual Conference, Rev. Melany Chalker knew it was time to play her hand and so far it looks like she is holding a royal flush.
The pastor at Concord UMC had been dreaming about such a boutique at other appointments in her 11-year ministry career, but nothing had every fully materialized. But when a layperson in her congregation came back equally as charged up about the free store idea following annual conference, it was only a matter of time.
A month after pitching the idea to her church’s leadership council, Chalker found several buildings in homey downtown Concord to rent and they just happened to be owned by another pastor. She really wanted the building formerly occupied by a trendy coffee shop, but she was a day late; the owner said someone rented it the night before she called.
“I thought, ‘No way,’ it was already finished, we don’t have money to rehab somebody else’s building and it’s on the corner, it’s got windows,” she said “He said, ‘You know, that's not handicap accessible,’” and I said, ‘Hmm, you know, a free store would have to be handicap accessible’. He said there’s only one in town that is and I own it.”
Located between a bar and grocery store and with the owner offering it to the church for just $295 a month — around 60 percent of its rental value — Chalker asked the leadership council for permission to rent immediately and finalize the details later.
What a good choice that turned out to be.
Fresh coats of paint are currently being put on the walls, volunteers are being lined up and money and sponsorships are already flowing in.
The store, which will officially be called the Open Door Free Store has already secured three “charter partners,” which will provide volunteers, financial backing and leadership for decision-making. The local Catholic Church, as well as nearby Presbyterian and Free Methodist churches have joined forces and in one week alone Chalker took in over $3,100 in monetary support, including one donor who wrote a check for $1,200.
The store is also looking for formal “friends of the store”, who will donate $10 a week for the entire year, an amount Chalker compares to what “people often contribute to help children in third-world countries.”
With money slowly coming down the pipeline and the store being updated with Chalker’s special touch — which comes with her 16 years of experience as a professional artist before jumping into ministry — the services the free store wants to offer continues to expand.
Inside the front door, a community table will be located, with cards, puzzles, and coffee for people to sit down and enjoy, whether or not they are coming in to shop. There will also be a supervised play area for kids, so parents can shop undisturbed, and there will be a prayer basket for people to submit requests.
Beyond the clothes, toys and home furnishings, the store hopes to offer a health station for the under- or un-insured.
Three parish nurses from Allegiance Health in Jackson have already showed substantial interest in volunteering their time to do basic check-ups, blood tests, referrals, etc.
“If somebody comes in and they haven’t seen a doctor in forever and their diabetes is out of whack, the parish nurse might say, ‘You know, St. Luke’s clinic up in Jackson might be able to help,’” Chalker said, noting the store is hoping to secure some medical supplies from Allegiance.
Concord UMC already has an active relationship with the North Parma UMC Food Pantry and Chalker is hopeful the store can become sort of a local distribution center for the community.
No matter what the free store offers though, one of Chalker’s goals is to make customers feel valued and loved like never before.
“It’s all about audacious generosity. I’ve had people say, ‘You’re going to give (people) a number on items, right? They can’t just have anything.’” She said. “It’s audacious generosity, yes they can.”
She said when she closes her eyes she sees the store as aesthetically pleasing, “more like a Kohl’s or Pier 1 then it does a second-hand store” and she will gladly store items in the church basement or ask people to hold off donations, instead of just stacking everything in piles.
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