By: Ryan Duey

After hearing the previous owners were closing down the business, former volunteers Samantha Davis and Suzanne Richards took ownership of Sharing Shelves Free Store in downtown Abilene in an effort to keep this vital business open for the community. Sharing Shelves takes gently used items donated to them and offers them to the community for free and at greatly reduced prices.

Sharing Shelves is open six days a week with varying hours. Davis said she hopes this gives a different variety of people a chance to shop there. She said that everyone is welcome to shop at the Free Store, regardless of income. She spoke about what the Free Store offers.

“The Free Store is basically a store where people can come in and we offer household items, clothing, hygiene products, laundry, soap, blankets, comforters, furniture, anything that you can think of, food, baby formula, baby food. Things like that to the community for free.”

Davis said the Free Store runs solely on donations, whether gently used items or monetary. She said they could use help from the community as they start this new journey.

“We are completely based on donations, so right now donations for helping with costs of building rents, donations of items to be put in the store, that is the number one thing that we need right now.”

“We ask the locals and the community to kind of step up and help us get this going and make it to what we want it to be, which will greatly benefit the community.”

The store also hosts various events for the community as a fundraiser, with all money going right back into the store. Davis said their goal is for everyone, no matter their race, income level, religion, etc. to feel welcome.

To learn more about Sharing Shelves, including their open hours, or to learn how you can donate to this cause, visit their Facebook page. Donations are also accepted at the store during their open hours.