WHO ARE WE?
Free Stuff for Daily Needs was founded by Barry and Theresa Buker. Just an ordinary couple that strongly feel that Jesus has laid it on their hearts to assist people around them by freely giving people items to assist them in their day-to-day life.
WHO DO WE HELP?
* Students leaving for College/University
* Young people starting out on their own
* People who've been burnt out
* People who've fallen on hard times
* People just struggling with day-to-day life
* Single parents
* Young families
* Elderly on low incomes
* ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
* Pray for us
* Talk to others and let them know this FREE service is available
* Donate ANY household items in good repair and used by any member of a household from babies to teens, to parents, singles, seniors
* Donate large appliances such as fridges, stoves, washers, and dryers
* Knit or crochet for us: hats, mitts, scarves, slippers, booties, blankets, etc.
* Sew for us: we have a simple crib sheet pattern—we are always short of crib sheets
* Volunteer your muscles: there are times when we need extra muscles to help us pick up donations, or get ready for our massive yardsales or giveaway events
* Assistance with sorting, testing, and cleaning of donations is always needed
* Plan fundraising events on our behalf
WHAT DO WE DO?
Since 1999, they have been progressively helping more and more people every year, 6 evenings a week, (Monday to Saturday). An average of 2,000 families/individuals a year from all over the Muskoka/Parry Sound and the Georgian Bay Township regions. That is about 10-20 truckloads of household items, big and small, every week that is given away for FREE to anyone who needs it.
Donations of normal everyday useful items used in a home are collected and given away to anyone who needs it for FREE! These items have been donated from hundreds of generous members of our community. Donated from people either downsizing, upgrading their own items, or from estates, etc.
Donations of anything big or small normally used in a home are accepted. That includes: linens, electrical, appliances, clothes, furniture, baby items, etc., etc. If you have it and have used it in your home, then likely someone else could use it in their home too.
WHERE IS IT LOCATED AND OPERATED FROM?
Free Stuff for Daily Needs is located and operated from our personal residence located at: 375 Muskoka Beach Road, Gravenhurst, Ontario.
We have a double car garage which is used to store large furniture and appliances. In our basement, it is set up like a store with shelving that displays pots/pans, dishes, glasses, small appliances, hangers, plastics for leftovers, knick knacks, hair dryers, curling irons, bathroom accessories, candles and holders, vases, etc. Upstairs, in our 2nd livingroom, is where people will find lamps, VHS/DVD's, VHS/DVD players, children's books, toys, clothes for the whole family, boots, shoes, hats, mitts, slippers, sheets, curtains, towels, dishcloths, shower curtains, bathmats, comforters, pillows, placemats and even tablecloths.
Storage of donations is contained within all the other areas of our home as they await testing, cleaning and ultimate storage/display. On the property we have a recently acquired 8 x 20 shipping container, (it is clear we still need a minimum of 2 additional units), a 12 x 20 tent shelter garage, and a workshop. In the workshop items such as lamps that need to be rewired and other items that may need minor repairs are located.
HOW?
People only need to call and make a personal, private appointment. An average appointment will take about 1-2 hours depending on the level of needs. Upon arriving, people are shown items from our huge inventory where they can then FREELY pick out what they need. We'll help them pack it up and then they take it home.
It's that simple !!
HOW ARE WE FUNDED?
We are a Non-Profit Business listed under the Canada Revenue Agency as: Individual and Family Services.
We cannot give charitable tax receipts.
So how are we funded? There are a variety of activities that we do to generate income to help cover some of the many expenses that are involved in running this ministry out of our own personal home, and use of our own truck, even with our over 4,000 hours/annually combined personal volunteer hours.
* 2 annual Fundraiser Yardsales (less than 5% of total items donated might be sold)
* Sale of scrap metal and E-waste (broken small and large appliances and old, non functional electronics)
* Sale of antiques
* Cash donations (no charitable receipts)
* Grants: Recipient of 2012, 2014 PAY IT FORWARD MUSKOKA GRANT
* Sale of Cookbooks to support Anti-Poverty Cookbook Project to ensure FREE copies are available to the community in need
NOTE: CASH DONATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTED FROM ANY PERSON WHO RECEIVES THIS FREE SERVICE
DEMOGRAPHICS SERVED
* 20% ODSP Recipients
* 20% Ontario Works Recipients
* 60% Other, working poor, etc.
HOW DID WE GET STARTED?
Before Barry and Theresa even met, both were already generous-hearted individuals seeking to help the less fortunate around them.
BARRY'S STORY:
About 20 years ago, Barry, within his General Maintenance Business, would be doing clean-outs for customers and would be taking still useful items to the dump as directed by his customers. However, at the same time, Barry was feeling God telling him to keep some of these items and give them away instead. But Barry ignored this message from the Lord, and one day in particular, after doing a clean-out and dump run, he was put straight on the issue.
That same evening, Barry went to visit some friends of his who were financially struggling. Upon arriving and asking how their day had gone, he was quick to discover that they had a bad day. That day their toaster burned out, the microwave blew up, the kettle stopped working, etc. In fact there was about 5 small appliances that all simultaneously had broken down that very day. (Funny how God will get your attention.)
Barry must have looked a little green or something, because the couple looked at him and asked him if he was alright. Barry looked at them and said, “Will you forgive me? I threw out those very same items today, all in good working order, into the dump. Will you let me pray about this and see what I can do?” The couple agreed, Barry prayed, and within a couple of days, God restored all of those very items to Barry so that he was able to go back to that couple and give those much needed items to them. The beginning of this ministry was born, and Barry paid attention when the Lord directed him to keep items for future distribution to needy families.
So began the habit of asking his customers if he could reduce their dump fees by taking those useable items and give them away.
THERESA'S STORY:
Even before becoming a single parent, Theresa was active in her community. In fact, Theresa was a founding member of the Severn Bridge Community Playgroup that would meet regularly at the Severn Bridge Women's Institute and would offer FREE parenting workshops, playgroup interactions for both parents and children, Toy Lending Library services, clothes swapping, etc.
In 1995, being a recent single parent of 3 small children and moving into Gravenhurst, didn't slow down her generosity. From there, even on a tight budget of $100/month for groceries, Theresa found herself making sure other children in her neighbourhood were fed as she shared her humble fare of food with the kids in her immediate region. She also took the time to teach other parents about head lice and its prevention and treatment, especially in 1996, when it seemed to be a particularly persistent pest. At the same time, a clothes swapping service was still being encouraged within the neighbourhood. Theresa also started sharing her budgeting and cooking tips with others to help their financial burdens and reach real solutions about common financial distresses.
THE STORY COMES TOGETHER:
In 1999, Barry and Theresa met and within a few short months knew without a doubt that the Lord had brought them together. They married, and shortly after, their ministries of reaching others hurting around them blossomed and took more shape as Free Stuff for Daily Needs was born.
