Baltimore Free Store Round Table Discussion
Friday September 8th
7pm
The Cork Gallery
1601 Guilford Avenue
Entrance on Federal Street - Buzzer # 9
Fourth Floor
(Light refreshments will be served)

This is a call for a public round table discussion to address the Baltimore Free Store – past, present, and future.

The Baltimore Free Store has always been a hands on grass roots organization that grew out of a tradition of radical community activism. As the Baltimore Free Store has gained name recognition and its programs have increased the strains on remaining a grass roots hands on organization are becoming ever increasingly difficult to handle. What began as a collective effort has, for one reason or another, whittled down to an individual effort with volunteer support on the physical end of donation organization and community support at Free Market events.

I am calling this meeting because I have reached my limitations in terms of what I can do on my own. I am asking for support from the community who feels that the Baltimore Free Store is a necessary existence for this city, whom want to see it become a lasting organization, and who are willing to do more than just donate their unwanted items. I am looking for an exchange of ideas on how the Baltimore Free Store can grow, how it can best achieve its mission, and how it can become self sustainable. From business propositions to mission alterations to organizational revamps, I am looking for ANY suggestions that may push this program along in the right direction. Granted, I may not like everything you have to say – I will always keep the mission in mind – but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to listen.

In direct relation to this discussion I am looking for individuals who are interested in getting their hands dirty, or in other words, helping to make the future of the Baltimore Free Store become a reality. It is great to see everyone stepping up and donating their items and their time when it comes to donations and Free Markets. But the reality is that that is only one aspect of the Baltimore Free Store. Behind all of that is the need to coordinate the entire organization, to interact with volunteers, to develop community relationships, to keep up finances, to continuously develop the program, and keeping up with the daily tasks of managing a warehouse. All of this coupled with donation collection, sorting, storing, and transporting has become an unbearable load to handle.

Not wanting to see this organization crumble, I am putting this call out as an alarm for those who are serious about the existence of the Baltimore Free Store in Baltimore City to step up and become an active participant before it is to late.

Please attend the following meeting:

Baltimore Free Store Round Table Discussion
Friday September 8th
7pm
The Cork Gallery
1601 Guilford Avenue
Entrance on Federal Street - Buzzer # 9
Fourth Floor
(light refreshments will be served)

It is very important that if you plan on attending this meeting please send an RSVP to baltimorefreestore-AT-gmail.com with your name and if you can please include any topic and or issue you plan on discussing. If you cannot attend the meeting feel free to send your thoughts or ideas to baltimorefreestore-AT-gmail.com or give me a call at 410-340-9004.

Thank You and I look forward to hearing from you.

Matt Warfield
Baltimore Open Society Institute Fellow
410-340-9004
www.baltimorefreestore.org