Arielle Silver-Willner talks to Chana Widawski
April 22, 2021
In March, Chana Widawski led the charge to create the 24/7 Free Store in the boarded-up storefront of a vacant bar and restaurant in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen. Widawski, a social worker, told Lilith editorial assistant Arielle Silver-Willner about launching the store and its role as a resource hub.
AS-W: How does a free store work and how did you find the space for it?
CW: There’s an epidemic of vacant storefronts plaguing our entire city right now. The spot was collecting trash and sometimes loitering and illegal activity. We decided to turn it into a community asset something that would actually be beneficial for the community.
UpdatedWed, Mar 17, 2021 at 9:15 am ET
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The Hell s Kitchen Free Store opened Wednesday on West 45th Street and Ninth Avenue, on a corner formerly occupied by the restaurant Southern Hospitality. (Courtesy of Chana Widawski)
Open 24/7, the store asks people to donate books, games, unused toiletries, small household items and nearly anything else useful. (Courtesy of Chana Widawski)
HELL S KITCHEN, NY A formerly empty restaurant storefront has been transformed into a free store, thanks to some thrifty neighbors who spotted a chance to help others while repurposing discarded goods.
The so-called store opened Wednesday on West 45th Street and Ninth Avenue, on a corner formerly occupied by the restaurant Southern Hospitality.
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