Freestore Guidelines for Non-DV Advocates and Clients
The warehouse loading area is next to the Jiu Jitsu Academy, which is at 841 11th St in Des Moines: east on Crocker from Keo Way, then south on 11th It is the second building. Our actual address is 834 10th St. but the loading dock is on 11th St.
A check on the agency check head (the money must come from the agency/church and not the client) is due from the advocate upon arrival at the warehouse. (We do not accept cash!)
The cost is $70 for a 1-2 person family; $85 for a 3-4 person family, $110 for a family of 5-6, $160 for a family of 7-8, and $210 for a family of 9-10. It costs the FreeStore approximately $300 to serve a family of 4 and the family usually takes about $2500 worth of good-used furniture.
It is the responsibility of the agency’s representative to assure that the client treats the volunteers with respect. The advocate or someone from his/her agency must come with the client.
We serve all qualified clients and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation or physical or mental disability. We reserve the right to limit the number of times per month an agency may send us clients. We reserve the right to refuse to serve any family who does not treat the FreeStore volunteer (the Greeter) with respect. We reserve the right to limit our services to advocates/agencies/ churches that have ongoing relationships with the families they want to sponsor. We reserve the right to refuse service to any person, advocate, or agency we feel does not meet the intent of our requirements.
Normally, only the advocate and the client are allowed to go “shopping” with the Greeter. Other helpers are to remain in the front of the warehouse except when moving/loading furniture. During the pandemic, neither clients nor advocates can enter the warehouse. Only FreeStore volunteers are allowed into the warehouse at this time.
We will only give items to a family who already has a house, condo, duplex, apartment, etc. We DO NOT give items that will be moved into a temporary place until the family has found housing.
The client can bring her own truck and help. OR she can have FreeStore volunteers move the items into a FreeStore truck and move them to the curb at her address. The client is then responsible for moving selected items from the curb into her home. With few exceptions, each non-DV referral is only allowed to use the FreeStore once. If a second trip is allowed it cannot be within 5 years of the first service.
It takes at least 2 strong people to move the items; FreeStore volunteers will not move items into client’s home so be sure to have enough help.
Finally, the Greeter will only be at the warehouse to serve the advocate and client. The client must notify the advocate or Greeter if the appointment cannot be met. If a client cancels twice, her/his request may not be served.
