FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #131 Free Clothes, Stronger Community
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What happens when a city’s extra shirts, shoes, and hoodies become a lifeline instead of landfill? We sit with the founder of Fredericksburg Free Closet to share how a donated cargo van, a few rolling racks, and a lot of heart evolved into a mobile, zero-cost clothing shop serving neighbors with dignity. From free market tables to school events and community dinners, we unpack a simple system that gets quality clothes where they’re needed fast—and keeps the flow moving through smart partnerships and weekly redistribution.
We explore how the project grew from a handful of men’s shirts into a network that includes trendy donations from local consignment stores, outdoor gear for people living unsheltered, and small appliances for families setting up home. The conversation goes deeper than donations: we talk about why casual wear is the top request, why men’s clothing is chronically short, and how small luxuries like lotions and perfumes restore confidence. We also spotlight surprising leverage points—bikes that turn commutes into job security, and quarters that turn an outfit from disposable to durable by unlocking access to laundry.
Looking ahead, we share the vision for a free storefront and a clever pilot: transforming a storage unit into a pop-up boutique with a “red carpet” entrance to test hours, access, and demand. Along the way, you’ll hear how a background in design and personal finance blogging primed our guest to build a lean, human-centered operation fueled by grants, gift cards, and community donations. If you’ve ever wondered where your “extra” can do the most good, this story shows how fast and personal impact can be when neighbors help neighbors.
Want to get involved, donate clothes or cash, or find help? Visit fxbgfreecloset.org, text the number on the site, or stop by a Monday or Tuesday pop-up to see your gift land in real time. If this moved you, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review—then tell us: what will you pass on next?
x
FXBG Free Closet
x@freecloset.org
(540) 642-0048
IG: @FXBGFreeCloset
Facebook: FXBG Free Closet
Welcome & Mission Of Free Closet
SpeakerThis is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker 2Welcome back to the FXBG Neighbors Podcast, where we share the stories of our favorite local brands. I have a special guest joining me today. We've got X, and he is with Fredericksburg Free Closet. Welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 1Hi, thank you. It's nice to be here.
Speaker 2I am really excited to learn more about you and the free closet. So let's start there. Share with us, tell us what is the Fredericksburg Free Closet?
How Donations Flow To Neighbors
Speaker 1Yeah, it's pretty simple. We give away free clothes to anyone who needs it, no questions asked. People donate stuff in, very nice stuff. Something I learned is we have a lot of stuff that's sitting there not being useful. And I try and uh repurpose it and give it to people that need it the most. A lot of people living on the streets, some lower income families, some kids. Um, but it's very simple. Um clothes get donated, I re-give it out, and it's a nice flow uh through the community.
Speaker 2Nice. And is it mostly clothes or is it other items?
Speaker 1Yeah, it started with just yeah, a couple of my brothers' clothes. Um I was volunteering at a free market downtown, the table at St. George's, um, and he was about to give some clothes to Goodwill. My mom said, No, just take it and see if you can give it to your you know, shoppers there at the table. And I said, Okay, so it was just kind of a few men's clothes. Um, and then as people started, they they just went off the shelves when I put them out. And so other people started giving me more clothes, and it started out clothes, um, shoes, um, accessories, it's kind of branched to like sleeping bags, tents. Um, now I'm starting to get home decor and microwaves. I'm turning into a goodwill, a free goodwill. Um, I'm trying to focus it. Um, but yeah, if someone gives me something I think is useful, as long as I can manage to carry it and give it to someone, like I'll take it and give it away for free.
Speaker 2Nice. Well, it's so important what you're doing, and I know the community thanks you for it. It's a lot of hard work. And so tell me, how do you get the items to people? Are you storing them and they're coming to you? Talk to me about that.
Mobile Closet, Events, And Partnerships
Speaker 1Yeah, so I'm currently, I just call myself like a mobile closet. Um, I have a cargo van that some generous person donated to us so I can carry lots of stuff. Um, I bring it out at free markets and free like dinners and some school events, and I kind of just set up with you know portable racks, try to make it a shopping experience. Um, people shop. Um, I do that a couple of times a week, and then I re-put it in my van, then it comes home in my garage. And I know my wife's here somewhere, but not not it's not the favorite thing that I have in my garage. Um, but um that's where it is now. And the ultimate goal is to have kind of a storefront, like a free store, um, where hey, you can come in during these hours, shop, everything's free. Again, we don't really have limits. We figure if you need it, you know, come get it. Um, and and we get so bombarded with with items. Like I've partnered up with lots of different um stores. Actually, a new one uptown Cheapskate next to uh Wegmans. Um, they love what we do and they say, hey, do you want all the stuff that that we have that you know we didn't buy and you know, people want to donate? And I say, sure. And it's all young, trendy stuff. Um, and so we just have lots of good stuff to give out to people. So my goal is just to have as many events as possible to get it all out. And every week, whatever people don't take, I redistribute to other nonprofits in the area. Um, and then a fresh new batch of clothes come in. So it's always new clothes for people. Um, and I mean they're really well dressed at this point.
Storefront Vision And Redistribution Loop
Speaker 2What a great community we have. You are partnering with places like Uptown Cheapskate and and other places like that. They send it to you, and then you're able to get it out there. And then if you can't get it out there, then there are other nonprofits in the area that can get it out there. So how lovely is that that you've got multiple organizations working together for our community? I love that.
Speaker 1Yeah, and a lot of the other places, um provisions for stores, Fotsey, Man Arc, um, downtown, they all are supporting the community too, and stuff that their people don't take. I try giving away. My people don't take, I give it to another one. So an item of clothes that gets donated probably goes to six or seven different locations or pop-ups before finally it gets um, there's a place I think I don't know much about yet. I need to research, but that will recycle all the cloth and and do something with it. So that's probably the ultimate where it goes if no one wants it across the board. Um, but yeah, it's really cool to see it happen, and everyone's been super um amazing. You know, I kind of started it just as an accident, and I said, Oh, I'll just keep doing it if it's helping people. And you know, one thing led to another, it's 40 40 hour day or week job, you know, no pay, but it's it's been awesome to see.
Speaker 2So, okay, so talk to me about that. So no pay. So you're doing this completely just out of the good of your heart. If if there are people listening that want to support you, uh, how can how can the community get behind you and help you with your mission?
Funding, Grants, And Community Support
Speaker 1Yeah, um, if you go to fxbgfreecloset.org, I have um things to donate. Um, you know, again, the eventual goal is to get a storefront, which you know costs money for rent. Um and since I don't sell anything, um, you know, I rely on either grants that I'm starting to apply for, um, different shopping centers around town, different groceries will give me gift cards to pick up stuff. Um, and then um, you know, but it's mostly just donations that I do. And I figure I'm, you know, kind of one of those people that just go with the flow. And if it's working, you know, just keep going and and seeing and putting it out to the world because, you know, one or two people might listen and say, Oh, I have this, you know, storefront here that's been sitting, you know, dead for two years. I love it to do good while looking for a new renter or something, you know, I don't know, but um, you know, that's the goal. And so it's whatever people donate, financially or closed, we accept gladly and um we just keep doing the mission.
Speaker 2Yeah. And you have a storage unit that you're uh that people can come and and check things out to.
Storage Unit Pop-Up Experiment
Speaker 1That's my newest thing. If uh during the pop-ups, if they don't take the stuff, I'm gonna I have a storage unit that I'm gonna line and make it look like kind of a store, you know, and we'll put racks outside with the red carpet so you can walk in, shop, go into the unit. Um, and that's another avenue to get stuff out in the community before it gets recycled or sent to other places. Um it's been kind of nasty out, so I haven't uh done one yet, but that is kind of an intermediate, kind of a first step to see what it's like to have a store. Do people show up? Um, you know, just it's just a different experiment than you know, where I go. I usually go where people are already congregating. There'll be like 100, 150 people already going for food. And so when I bring clothes, they're already there, they get like two necessities at one spot. It's like a perfect marriage. Um, so to have the clothes by themselves, you know, would just be interesting to see what type of people come, how it works, how much stuff they take. You know, some of these dinners, again, a lot of them, you know, are unhoused, lower income, so they just take a bunch all at once. Like I'll all give out around a thousand to thirteen hundred items every single week just from doing two events. Um, so the storaging idea, maybe, you know, I don't know how it goes, but it's fun to experiment. So that is, yeah, in the next month should be my first uh pop-up there.
Speaker 2Nice. Yeah, it is very different when you're going to them and they're not necessarily expecting you to be there. I'm sure it's just a a gift to see you there, versus people who are seeking uh and and maybe aren't in as big of a need, but still are in need and they can come to you. So you're serving a brand new audience in that way, which is really important.
Access, Audience, And Abundance
Speaker 1Yeah, you know, and we're uh and where the pop of up is in South Stafford. So it's um like you need a car. I think there is a bus stop nearby, it's near a giant. Um, so it's a different audience for sure. Um, but you know, that's something I learned that there's a lot of people that look like they're fine financially or mentally, and and they're not for whatever reason. Um, so kind of just saying, hey, here's everything we have. And in our community, as you mentioned, they're so loving and there's so much, I don't want to say wealth, but there's so much abundance of things that we all have. And so when people donate, like I of course thank them for it, but it also feels like they are so thankful to like help out and to participate in giving and knowing that they contributed. So it's kind of a win-win all around. And then obviously the person that gets it, you know, loves it. So three different parties win just from a simple, you know, transaction. And it's interesting because you know, I don't have a storefront. So unlike Goodwill, I can say, oh, just drop it off at Goodwill during these hours. So people kind of have to go out of the way to find me at the coffee shop, or I'll meet them at different like targets and different locations, you know, which you know, in this day and age, you know, people want it fast and quick, and I'm not that. So like the people that meet me, like they're to me, they're very special because they took the time out to to meet and and didn't just hurry up and dump it at Goodwill.
Speaker 2Yeah. What are you finding when you're out meeting people? What are what do people need? So if people are listening and they they have you know a bunch of stuff around the house that they know that they would love to donate, what are you finding people really need?
What People Need Most
Speaker 1Um, the number one thing is casual stuff. Um, so cat like sweatpants and hoodies and tennis shoes are like by far the most popular. And and I get a lot of women's stuff. Women are very good at going through their closets and big hearts, and us men, you know, we're slow. We're you know, for whatever reason, we don't like to go through our stuff. So I'm always short on men's stuff in particular. Um, but you know, I started a lot of people, um, like some companies that clean out and declutter, like decluttering companies, they'll go through people's um bathrooms and say, hey, like all these half-used lotions or half-used perfumes that people don't use. Normally they go in for garbage, but I said, hey, give it to me because like lotions and pretty smelling things, like that's a luxury for my core audience. And so they'll give me and people love it, and they're spraying it and they're getting changed and they're wild and it's strutten, you know, and everyone has their style and their signature scents and stuff. So um that's been an interesting new thing in the last couple months. Um, and bikes. Um, a lot of uh, you know, contrary to what a lot of people think, like there are people that do work and want to work, and sometimes it's just transportation. And I don't know if you've tried to take the bus, you know, buses around here, but it it takes a long time to get to certain places, and so giving people a bike, they can get there super fast, they're in control, it's not that expensive, there's no gas involved. So that's been a huge thing where I can give bikes to people and then they have transportation to work, you know. So that's been pretty cool.
Speaker 2Amazing. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. So tell me a little bit about your background. How did you how did you get into that? I I want to know.
Bikes, Transport, And Work
Speaker 1Yeah, well, this particular thing is just totally completely random. Like, I like I went to school for graphic design and like kind of media arts kind of thing at James Madison years ago. Um, and I did eat I accidentally stumbled across like the blog world. Um, I had been like about to get married, I was like thinking about buying a house, so I just kind of literally Googled like how do you budget? You know, I never was bad with money, I was never good, I was just somewhere in the middle. And I came across all these people just sharing, like, here's how I save, here's how I pay up debt, here's how I invest. And they would show like real life, like financial like network, like here's my net worth. And you know, people talk about money, but not details. Um, and so that drew me in. And I said, Well, I could start a blog about how to save money, drinking beer, and how to, you know, whatever. I was in my 20s, but it took off like so many people because I wasn't talking financial jargon and you know, I don't wear a suit and tie, obviously. Um, and so that kind of made me because this had a lot of traffic and then a lot of money for advertising, it became a business. So it was kind of like an accidental entrepreneur. I had to learn how to market, I had to learn how to do accounting, I had to learn how to do all these things. I had a podcast at one point I was telling you earlier about, I was experimenting, um, and that lasted for about 15 years. Became very popular. I ended up selling, you know, a blog, which, you know, it was just my writing and my thoughts, but because of all the traffic and the money. Um, and that kind of set me up enough to where I was like, you know what, I'm gonna take a break from hustling all the time. I'm just gonna chill at a coffee shop and read. Um, and I came across someone that was homeless, and she just whatever reason like stuck to me. I kept thinking about her, and she's like, why don't you come volunteer and learn about the community? And I said, Okay. And so I volunteered for a year and then um, you know, I accidentally stumbled across the clothing thing. And um, you know, I just love help. That that community to me, it's interesting. At one of the free dinners, oh, by the way, anywhere in the city, um, there's always a free dinner and always a free lunch and sometimes free breakfast. So and there's free food pantries, like our city is amazing. But at the dinners, there's like a hundred people and they're smiling and they're laughing, and they have so much community, like more so I would say than many of us that are in the suburbs, because they're just they all get each other, they love each other. There's drama and there's all that stuff too. But it's like it's just like it really struck me the community. Um, and it struck me doing the closet, like how everyone still has their own style. Like, I thought if you needed a shirt, I would just give you a shirt and you'd be happy with it in the beginning. And then I was like, no, no, no, like we all, right? Like, you just don't want any old shirt or color that you don't like. So that kind of stuff was super fascinating to me.
Founder’s Journey From Blogging To Service
Speaker 2Interesting. Interesting. So, what is something that you wish the listeners knew about the free closet?
Speaker 1Um I really don't know. Um, I mean, I guess this sounds stupid and weird, but I think that I accept money because everyone loves to give me clothes, which which we need to operate, you know, but like stupid stuff like having to buy trash bags and clothing racks and hangers. Like I have to find a way. I try to barter, or again, like I'll try and get like these little mini grants from grocery stores so that I can buy stuff. Um but the money, like operationally, like I want people to know that I accept. And I'm not just saying that just to like hopefully get more, you know, but like that's probably the one thing that people don't know we could do. Oh, and quarters. Um, so an issue that I'm trying to solve in Micah downtown is also trying to solve, is a lot of people that are living on the streets, they get some an outfit from us that they love, they wear it for a few days or a week, and then they have to trash it because they have no means to do the laundry. And the laundromats, you know, maybe cost eight or nine, ten dollars to do. So I'm kind of trying to say, hey, maybe people can give quarters and I can give them to people to do laundry, and that'll make the clothes last longer, make them feel better, um, you know, and get have, you know, need less clothes to give out to. Um, so the laundry thing, I I that kind of threw me for a loop. I definitely, you know, it makes sense once you say it out loud, but I I didn't realize that in the beginning. Like, wow, that's why so much clothes is going out of my closet because they, you know, they'll come in and they'll go to the bathroom, throw away their clothes and get a brand new set of clothes. You know, and some people are just that way in general, but a lot of people want to keep what they have on, they just have no means of cleaning it. Um, so they're forced to get new clothes.
Speaker 2Yeah. So if if the listeners want to contribute financially or close, how what is the best way for them to go about it?
Money, Laundry Quarters, And Operations
Speaker 1Um, yeah, they can go to the website fxbgfreecloset.org and um just reach out to me through the contact form. Um, my cell phone number's on there. They can text me, call me. I'm faster at text than calling, but I will call you back. Um and then usually I'm like, hey, um, I'm at this coffee shop for a few hours, stop by anytime. Any of the pop-ups we do, we do on Monday night and we do one Tuesday afternoon. You're welcome to stop by and see in action, but then also you can also give your items there. And that's pretty cool because you could bring in a shirt, and before you like hand it to me, someone intercepts or is like, Oh, I love that shirt. This is so cool. Can I have it? And you get to see it in action, like your item going to the direct person. Um, and that's my favorite thing, probably about this whole project of like how fast and direct it is. Like you give something, I give it away, usually within 24 hours, maybe three days, depending on when you give it to me. And it's like already in circulation. Um, there's no like fuss, and it's just it's very simple, as simple as I can make it at least. Um, you know, and so um, but yeah, so those are the best ways. Come to a closet or just reach out to me and I'll figure out a way to meet you somewhere convenient.
Speaker 2Amazing. And then if there is someone listening that might be in need and they are interested in finding you, how can they find you?
Speaker 1Yeah, same through through the website. I'm also on Instagram at FXPG Free Closet and Facebook. Um, and I will people will reach out and and say, hey, I'm this size, this is what I need. And I do my best. I I always have the items, but I don't know the style, and I just hate giving someone something they're like, oh, like cran, you know, and and I have my certain style, like I like ripped jeans, you know, I like t-shirts, and so I sometimes accidentally give them what I like and they might not. So the best case they come to the closet and they can shop for themselves and you know, with other people. So it's no, there's no, we try and make it as judgment free as possible. Um, and and in that regard, and there's another closet called Community Threads that's off of Route Three, right next to Batteries Plus, right outside of the city. Um, and they have a storefront. We partner with them, and they're open Mondays and Thursdays most of the day. So that's another spot people can come and shop in a store experience of getting items. Um, so that's that's a pretty that's another resource to know about.
Speaker 2Nice, amazing.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah.
How To Donate Or Get Help
Speaker 2Well, thank you so much for all that you do. You are a gift to our community. Thank you. And I really appreciate you sharing the free closet with us.
Speaker 1Yeah, thanks for having me on, and hi everyone listening and and viewing. I'll see you around downtown probably. So I'm always at a news cafe. That's where I saw you going to.
SpeakerYeah, yeah, yeah. I'll see you around town.
Speaker 1Okay.
SpeakerThank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG NeighborsPodcast.com.