Pulaski County Free Store

The Pulaski County Free Store is a volunteer-run organization that provides goods to the public for free. Located in Pulaski County, Virginia, the store offers personal items and food at no cost. Store owners Terry Ratcliffe, Sabrina Davidson-Ratcliffe, and Hazel Wines hold the goal of helping people to obtain the things they need. The organization strives to maintain the tradition of neighbors helping one another, and also spreads environmental awareness by the promotion of choosing second-hand stores. Serving members of the county and the New River Valley, the goals of this store relate to movements such as mutual aid, reuse economy, as well as other free stores. 

Introduction

The Pulaski County Free Store offers food and goods to consumers for free. Serving members of Pulaski County and the New River Valley, they strive to maintain support between community members and upkeep of the environment (Pulaski Free Store Website). The items in this store are provided by businesses and people in the county (Pulaski Free Store Website). Stores such as this tie into wider movements involving sustainability and community oneness.

Background

The shop, located in Dublin, Virginia, was opened in a storage unit in August of 2021 (Thomas). The establishment provides food and personal items that are available to customers for free. The Free Store, run by Terry Ratcliffe, Sabrina Davidson-Ratcliffe, and Hazel Wines, came about after Davidson-Ratcliffe wanted to make a change (Miles). The goals of the store are for community members to care for each other, and to protect the environment for current and future generations (Pulaski Free Store Website).

In an interview with Virginia’s Public Media (VPM), Sabrina Davidson-Ratcliffe explained how the store came to be and the ways in which it benefits shoppers. After noticing a homeless woman on the street during a visit to New York with her daughter, she decided it was time for a change (Davidson-Ratcliffe, VPM Interview). She would later be introduced to and collaborate with Hazel Wines to make this happen (Miles). This would be of benefit to Pulaski County: Wines noted the high poverty rate there, and that while some places do provide help to people, they often require tests, which become a barrier for people to get what they need; they wanted to remove those barriers (Wines, VPM Interview). According ot welfareinfo.org, the poverty rate in the county is 12.8% (welfareinfo.org).

Two goals of the store are for community members to look out for each other, and protection of the environment (Pulaski Free Store Website). Free stores as such generally have goals that encompass collaboration and sustainability. (Green America). The concept of a free store actually may have its roots in the 17^th century, and also occurred in the 1960s (Green America). Members of a community helping each other in this way is an example of mutual aid, where community members volunteer to help one another instead of relying on governmental assistance (Mutual Aid). The organization is volunteer-run and relies on the support of the community and working together (Pulaski Free Store Website; Pulaski County Free Store Facebook Page). Their website also says that they want “…everyone to make second hand their first choice when shopping…” (Pulaski Free Store Website). This contributes to a re-use economy or circular economy, which is “a system that aims to reduce, reuse and recycle materials” (Scientific American).

Melinda Williams said that she shops, as well as donates to the Free Store. This makes her feel that she is helping others, while also getting things she needs as well (Williams, Interview). Some of the items that the store accepts from donators include electronics, household items, linens, cleaning supplies, personal items, and more (Pulaski County Free Store Website). The organization says they serve hundreds of families every month and estimate that they may serve one hundred families within three hours (Miles). The store is open on Sundays. (Miles).

Conclusion

Overall, the Pulaski County Free Store strives to help people living in the area and the community. Through the work of its volunteers, supporters, and shoppers, they are able to provide for those who need it. They not only want to make sure that people are taken care of, but the environment as well (Pulaski County Free Store Website). Organizations such as this are beneficial factors in uplifting communities. To contact the free store, their email is freestorepc@gmail.com.

Green America. Free Store: Where Everything Is, Yes, Free, Green America . Accessed April 30th, 2023. https://www.greenamerica.org/green-living/store-where-everything-free.

How Can You Help Care For Your Neighbors?, Pulaski County Free Store. Accessed May 9th, 2023. https://pulaskifreestoreva.org/get-involved.html.

King, Sarah. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Why All 3 R’s Are Critical to a Circular Economy, Scientific American. December 13th, 2022. Accessed April 30th, 2023. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/reduce-reuse-recycle-why-all-3-rs-are-critical-to-a-circular-economy/.

Miles, Angie . There’s a new store in Pulaski where everything is free, VPM. March 31st, 2022. Accessed April 6th, 2023. https://www.vpm.org/news/2022-03-31/theres-a-new-store-in-pulaski-where-everything-is-free.

Mutual Aid has a long and rich history, www.mutualaid.coop. Accessed April 30th, 2023. https://www.mutualaid.coop/.

Poverty Rate in Pulaski County, Virginia, welfareinfo.org . Accessed May 9th, 2023. https://www.welfareinfo.org/poverty-rate/virginia/pulaski-county/.

Pulaski County Free Store, Pulaski County Free Store. Accessed April 30th, 2023. https://pulaskifreestoreva.org/.

Pulaski County Free Store is a community store (About Us), Pulaski County Free Store. Accessed April 30th, 2023. https://pulaskifreestoreva.org/about-us.html.

Pulaski County Free Store, facebook. Accessed April 30th, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/freestorepc.

Thomas, Will. Pulaski County Free Store welcomes community to new location, Bridging the Great Health Divide. Accessed April 30th, 2023. https://www.greathealthdivide.com/2021/10/03/pulaski-county-free-store-welcomes-community-new-location/.