Free Store
UofL Free Store Trash to Treasure Move-Out!
April 17 - May 2, 2023
Why throw out stuff you no longer want, when you can give it to other students?! For this year's Move-Out, UofL urges you to skip the landfill dumpster and fill up the UofL Free Store!
Monday, April 17th - Thursday, April 20th: Donate any kind of clean, functional, unbroken/ripped/stained clothes, shoes, accessories, household items, office/cleaning/art/bath & beauty supplies, books, small appliances, etc. to the UofL Free Store in SAC W303C M-Th 12-6pm and you’ll be entered to win fabulous prizes from SAB! Free “shoppers” welcome, too!
Friday, April 21st - Tuesday, May 2nd: As you move-out, look for donation spots in the lobby of your residence hall to donate useful, clean, unbroken, larger items like lamps, rugs, appliances, furniture, storage bins, etc. UofL will store all unclaimed items over the summer and make it all available to students moving back onto campus at a Free Sale in August!
Tuesday, April 25th 11:30am - 1:30pm, Red Barn: Everyone is welcome to come "shop" the UofL Free Store's final monthly Free Sale. Donations will also be welcome at this event!
Help us keep useful stuff out of the landfill while helping your fellow students! Volunteers are always welcome to keep the store open and tidy while sorting donations. UofL promotes an inclusive environment for all, regardless of gender identity and/or gender expression. The Free Store is a Transgender-Friendly space!
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The Free Store is a space for the on-going free exchange of clean, functional, durable items like clothing, shoes, electronics, small appliances, household items, bath & beauty supplies, books, school & art supplies, and more.
Spring 2023 Hours: Monday - Thursday, Noon - 6pm
Located in SAC W303C, the UofL Free Store is run by interns and volunteers who help process donations and keep the store tidy and organized in support of the project to help keep useful items out of the landfill while meeting the needs of their peers.
Donations of clean, functional items can be made any time in the small bin outside the door of the Free Store or in the large red bins at the base of the driveway just east of Unitas Tower, off Cardinal Blvd. Please do not donate torn, broken, soiled, or wet items. Unfortunately, we do not currently have the capacity to mend, repair, or clean donations.
UofL promotes an inclusive environment for all, regardless of gender identity and/or gender expression. The Free Store is a Transgender-Friendly space.
The store is open to all UofL students and employees during set hours each week during the regular academic year. Volunteers wanted!
Volunteer!
The UofL Free store relies on volunteers to help us create an efficient, safe, and excellent service for the campus community. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact us at uoflfreestore@gmail.com.
Typical volunteer responsibilities include:
- Greeting patrons with a friendly and welcoming attitude
- Protecting the confidentiality of patrons
- Cleaning and organizing the Free Store
- Keeping store a clean, bright, and welcoming environment
- Emptying waste bin into recycling/trash as needed
- Weighing and tracking donations into our donation chart
- Canvassing campus with promotional flyers, chalkboards, and other materials
- Reporting any issues to Free Store manager
- Checking donation bin when needed and restocking store
All Volunteers must commit to one hour shift of volunteer work per week during the fall or spring semester. Volunteers are recommended not to overwork themselves and keep their curricular work, mental and physical health, and personal health a priority.
Free Sales!
Last Tuesdays, Sept. - April, 11:30am-1:30pm, Red Barn
These pop-up Free Sales are offered by the Free Store. They will be offered on last Tuesdays of each month throughout the year from 11:30am-1:30pm at the Red Barn (outside in good weather).
Thank You!
The Free Store is grateful for support from the Kroger Zero Hunger | Zero Waste grant in support of UofL's sustainability initiatives!
If you would like to volunteer or have questions about the Free Store, please contact our 2022-23 Free Store Manager:
Emily Minnis (502-523-7879)
History & Press:
UofL and the Free Store help December grad break the poverty cycle (UofL News, Dec. 7, 2022)
New University “Free Store” aims to combine convenience with sustainability (The Louisville Cardinal, Nov. 11, 2021)
Students in Group Recycling And Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) first joined forces with the UofL Sustainability Council and Campus Housing in Fall 2013 to open a permanent Free Store which was originally housed in the basement of Unitas Hall through Spring 2019. In 2017 alone, the Free Store helped keep over 700 pounds of items out of the landfill!
Sustainability at UofL: GRASS develops Free Store
(The Louisville Cardinal, 4/3/13)
