SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A South Bend coffee spot is home to a thrift-style market this week, offering locals a unique opportunity to shop sustainably.
The Free Market Community Swap is hosted at The Well through a collaboration with Make South Bend. The goal is to connect people who have excess items with those who need them at no cost, centering around up-cycling and pushing back against overconsumption.
“Enough stuff exists and is already made,” said Mandi Quigley, volunteer manager at The Well. “So why not just facilitate getting stuff that people have into the hands of people who need it?”
Quigley said the market accepts nearly anything — from clothing to bikes and household goods.
“We have clothes, we have TV’s, we have books, we have puzzles, kids' stuff, baby items.”
Community members were encouraged to donate items throughout the past week, helping stock the market ahead of its opening. Now, anyone can browse and take what they need or want — all they have to do to is come in with a tote bag.
For some visitors, the market has provided access to hard-to-find essentials.
Quigley recalled one attendee who found exactly what she needed for a new job.
“A woman came in and was like, ‘I need these,’” Quigley said. “She was just starting her apprenticeship, and those were the gloves she needed — and they’re very hard to find in her size.”
The Free Market runs at The Well from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. through Friday, with a final opportunity to attend Saturday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.