Oberlin Free Store

I highly recommend the free «store” – especially at the beginning of the year, when all the stuff from the seniors that moved out last year is still there. Any freshmen looking to outfit their new dorm room or upperclassmen moving into a house should definitely check it out. I mean, come on: it’s free.

It’s a «store» only in the abstract sense… everything is free. Whenever a dorm occupant liquidates some of their things, they end up here. Bring some stuff, drop some stuff off. The selection varies wildly depending on time of year, but there’s always a nice selection of clothing.
The concept of the free store originated with the Digger movement of San Francisco of the 1960s. They had a free store on Haight Street where soldiers on leave could walk in looking like a soldier and walk out looking like a hippie, then they would probably go AWOL and ditch Vietnam. Nowadays it’s a great way to curb the awful waste of our culture through re-​use.
As the website says, you need to swipe your card to get into the building. If you can’t find someone to let you in, you can call the store and they’ll come up and get you.