Student Experience
Homepage
Success Feed
The store, funded by a social change microgrant, offers students a sustainable way to find essential items where the only currency is kindness.
Julia Stein '24 (left), BW Student Resource Center coordinator and Hannah Dodson '25 (right) BW Free Store student director.
After two years in the making, Baldwin Wallace University's Free Store is officially up and running in the basement of Wheeler Hall, providing students, faculty and staff with access to lightly used clothing, bedding, appliances, dorm accessories, electronics and other amazing finds at no cost.
The store operates as a community-driven initiative to reduce waste and support students in need.
The new store is powered by donations and a microgrant awarded by BW's Brain Center for Community Engagement, with support from The Allstate Foundation's 2024-25 College Service Grants.
By donating and shopping at the Free Store, BW community members not only give pre-loved items a second life but also promote sustainability and ensure fellow students have access to essential resources.
"We originally started this as a way for students who couldn't afford BW gear to find gently used items and feel a greater sense of belonging," says Marsita Ferguson, director of BW's Brain Center for Community Engagement. "Through the efforts of our SERVE team and the 'Leave It Behind' program — where students donate items they no longer need — the Free Store has grown into something much bigger."
The Free Store aligns with BW's culture of generosity and resourcefulness, making it easier for students to find what they need without any financial strain.
"College can be expensive, and it can also be wasteful when you have to buy a bunch of stuff," says neuroscience major Hannah Dodson '25, one of two student directors for the project. "One man's trash is another man's treasure."
Currently, the Free Store is open Wednesdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and Fridays, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
With additional grant funding pending, the Brain Center hopes to expand the initiative even further.
