On Saturday morning, it seemed as if everyone at Free Store 15104 in Braddock was cooling off with an icy treat.
“They see me and ask, ‘Do you have Popsicles?’ ” said Nancy Shelton of Jefferson Hills, a longtime volunteer at the store. “I’m now the Popsicle Lady.”
As has become her custom, she brought about 250 frozen pops to the store’s distribution event Saturday, where families in the Braddock area were free to choose from a variety of clothing, toys and other items, with no money exchanged.
“We basically handle excess,” explained Giselle Fetterman, founder of the free store and wife of Braddock Mayor John Fetterman. Ms. Fetterman said she is able to secure donations of quality items from companies that are overstocked or, in the case of New York City’s famed toy store F.A.O. Schwarz, leaving its Manhattan location.
New York is where the idea for the free store, which has been open for almost three years, had its genesis. Ms. Fetterman and her family lived there after moving from their native Brazil.
“On garbage days, people were throwing out furniture that was beautiful,” she recalled. Based on that experience, “I always have to find a new home for things.”
Free Store 15104, named for the ZIP code of the Braddock area, opened in 2012. It is housed in three immense, brightly colored shipping containers in the 400 block of Braddock Avenue and is open from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
One of the building-like containers houses the Red Lantern Bike Shop, which also is bustling with activity on Saturdays.
“We’ll fix anyone’s bike,” Brian Sink of Braddock, one of the shop’s volunteers, said. “Bring it down, and we’ll fix it up.”
The shop also repairs and distributes bicycles that have been donated.
“This is truly good work,” volunteer Brian Frazier, also of Braddock, said after repairing a bicycle for Tavian Edwards, 5, of Rankin. “It’s something I can believe in, to brighten the lives of children.”
Ms. Shelton has been helping with the free store’s efforts for most of its existence, after learning about it through her job with Mon Yough Community Services Inc. She said people in her Jefferson Hills neighborhood often donate items that she takes to Braddock.
“You know it’s being put to good use,” she said.
Yoga instructor Janet Tant is helping the effort by accepting donations for the free store at her ninth annual Karma Yoga Event, which was held Wednesday at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Mt. Lebanon.
“The intent of the event is to raise funds and awareness for a worthy cause. It really fit the kind of charity that we’re looking for,” she said, expressing high praise for Ms. Fetterman. “Her whole concept is, just be kind and take only what you need and pay it forward. It all falls in line with karma yoga.”
Renee Walker of Braddock was among those at the free store on Saturday. She was looking for clothes for children of her daughters’ friends.
“Kids grow fast. They always need clothes,” she said. “I’ve been able to clothe a few children out of here. I believe in recycling, and this is a very good example of it.”
Ms. Fetterman said the clothing that people get from the store often ends up back there when they are finished with the items and then the clothing can be used by someone else.
“It’s exciting to see that item returned and used again,” she said.
The only cost of running the store is $26 for the monthly electric bill. Free Store 15104 serves an average of about 1,600 people during that period.
“It’s very therapeutic, not only for the people who donate to the store, but to see the gratitude of the folks who come here,” Ms. Fetterman said.
For more information: www.freestore15104.org
Harry Funk, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.
First Published: July 17, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
