Hundreds attend Free Store 2.0 in Saint John, highlighting the need for more mutual aid

The Saint John Community Coalition’s second free store on March 29 exceeded organizers’ expectations with more than 400 people attending the event. Residents lined up for clothing, non-perishables, pet food, kitchen utensils, books, toys and more.

The free store was held at the iconic Stone Church in uptown Saint John. “This was a huge event and it was great to see so many community members,” said Jasmine Chandra, Priest in Charge at Stone Church. “There is more homelessness, food insecurity and no place for people to get together,” she added.

Food Not Bombs, a volunteer collective, provided lentil soup, garlic bread and an array of baked goods, all sourced through community generosity.

For many attendees, the event was more than just a place to pick up needed items – it was an experience of community warmth. “I came here expecting to grab a couple of things, but I ended up staying, just talking to people,” said one community member. “It’s rare to find a space where there’s no pressure to buy anything, just people hanging out and helping.”

“I’m looking after my elderly neighbors and two new immigrant families. I’ve had to make a couple of trips but I got a lot of things they need right now,” said another community member. “It’s not just about the stuff you know, it’s about the feeling of being valued and welcomed,” she emphasized.

Community members were also treated to live performances by local musicians.

“I sang in my language. I believe music is universal. I am glad the Free Store provides us with such an inclusive space to connect with participants,” said Andri Cahyadi, a social worker who played Indonesian music at the event.

The coalition emphasized inclusivity by offering information about the event in Hindi, French, Korean, Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin, on their posters.

“It was a rollercoaster of emotion,” said Zara Mackay-Boyce, who was one of the musicians. “I was surprised at the crowd waiting, happy that the word had gotten out, and a little angry that the systems have failed so many people. But inside, when I was playing music, I felt a lot of hope seeing people willing to take action in the community,” she said.

Caitlin Lapeña and Jay Issac, artists living in rural New Brunswick, coordinated a community art project at the event. “People seemed to enjoy contributing to the collaborative drawing as well as having the chance to learn about the historical drawing game Exquisite Corpse,” Issac said.

“We were able to chat with adults and kids, and give them a space to pause during the busy experience,” he said. Lapeña and Issac felt that the free store was an impressive model of solidarity and community care that was achieved with the simple premise of making everyone feel welcome without conditions on participation.

Building on a first successful first free store held last December, Saint John organizers had the support of several volunteers from the community.

“The energy and teamwork was fantastic and it was awesome to be a part of it,” said volunteer Yaw Agyemang. “It was chaos, but it was amazing. I saw so many smiling faces. No one was arguing over who grabbed what,” said Ryan Elliot, another volunteer at the event. People were accommodating and made space for those with mobility issues. “Definitely something I was proud to be a part of,” Elliot added.

“The people attending were helping each other carry things, celebrating good finds together, and doing more than just shopping. People participated in art exhibits, signed up to volunteer for future events, and shared meals,” said Nathan Blais, another volunteer. “It was a totally unique experience, and I hope there are more of them in the future,” he added.

“I was so grateful and happy to see how much our community had contributed,” said Lindsey Elaine, a first-time volunteer. Elaine felt intimidated by the large pile of donations initially, “but more people kept showing up to help, and it was done in no time!” she recalled. “At one point the whole church smelled like garlic bread, it was fabulous,” Elaine added.

The free store is rooted in ideas of mutual aid, where community members collaborate to meet each other’s needs without hierarchical or government structures. The approach ensures that everyone is welcome, with no limitations on what people can take and no requirements to participate. Decades of political neglect and corporate greed has pushed people to the edge in terms of housing, food and power affordability. In this context, free community events are vital “third spaces,” where people can gather to meet their needs, develop a shared understanding of their conditions and build solidarity without facing barriers to entry or the expectation of spending money.

“It’s really cool that even in a smaller city like Saint John, there are people organizing around the idea of a solidarity economy, instead of the for-profit model of Value Village. We need more mutual aid that doesn’t feel like charity,” said volunteer David MacFarquhar.

The turnout was more than the organizers had anticipated and more than the church could hold. “When we opened the doors, it filled up immediately and became hard to navigate for everyone, especially those with limited mobility,” said organizer Brit Rose.

The organizers brought people muffins, croissants and water along with access to the washroom inside. They also placed some boxes of items outside for people to look through. “This was a huge improvement to the first, but we need to find a way to accommodate everyone, it’ll happen someday,” Rose added with optimism.

Organizers have noted the profound impact these events have had on community members. Many visitors arrived guarded but left feeling more open and connected in a relaxed atmosphere full of laughter. The coalition hopes that by demonstrating the success of these markets, they can inspire other communities to take similar initiatives.

“This is community members helping each other. We have no particular expertise or authority or financial backing, we’re just a bunch of people,” said Sarah Durham, another organizer. Durham added that community-driven initiatives demonstrate the profound impact of collective care and mutual aid.

Nomaan X is the Sanctuary Network Coordinator with the Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre, an organizer with the Saint John Community Coalition and teaches at the University of New Brunswick, Saint John.