Best places to get free gear? Homeless help places etc that are well stocked

tiltedkitten

tiltedkitten

New member
I'm currently on the west coast in Oregon Washington area, but really anywhere is good to know about, I just feel like there ought to be some kind of resource list for getting sleeping bags, boots, coats, packs etc for free or really extremely cheap thrift stores around the country
 
The St. Vincent De Paul society is a good resource too.,.St Vinny has put me up in hotels before, and their thrift stores are pretty awesome.

The Goodwill Outlets (also known as "The Bins") are a great place to find all sorts of stuff extremely cheap as they charge by the pound
 
Leadbellytherxrcur said:
The St. Vincent De Paul society is a good resource too.,.St Vinny has put me up in hotels before, and their thrift stores are pretty awesome.

The Goodwill Outlets (also known as "The Bins") are a great place to find all sorts of stuff extremely cheap as they charge by the pound
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When Zim was here the first time a couple of his friends and I dumpstered "The Bins" bin. It was amazing -it was jammed with stuff! Stuff that probably didn't sell - why they didn't give it to a shelter or a mission I don't know. I found a few things - his friends and John found more. There was a lot of clothing, purses, shoes, etc etc.
 
Remember the bum feeds around the holidays are the best they always got good stuff.
Some places you kinda have to build a reputation at. If you show them that your going to appreciate what they give you they might get you the good stuff.
I asked for work boots one time at a weekly thing. Next week they brought me a pair of bates boots which I still wear. The lady there remembered me from then on and when she got to know me more she brought me things I especially needed.

Talking to people and socialising is also great because you never know who has some "crap" lying around that might be really useful to you.
 
Jackson hole in the spring is fucking awesome! !!
All the billionaire yuppies sell off there stuff (some with tags still on it) super cheap.
They have to buy all new hiking /camping gear and ski/snowboard gear every year to keep up with the Jones's kinda thing
 
I'm heading in that direction, so I'm thankful someone has already reached out on this. ::nurse:: Thank you to everyone that's posted!
 
tiltedkitten said:
I'm currently on the west coast in Oregon Washington area, but really anywhere is good to know about, I just feel like there ought to be some kind of resource list for getting sleeping bags, boots, coats, packs etc for free or really extremely cheap thrift stores around the country
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If you're still in the area, Portland has 2 "free stores." This one(http://quatr.us/freestorepdx/) was started after Occupy by a radical family. It looks like they haven't held one since December? Might wanna get in touch to find out. If you are really in need, I bet they'd let you look through their basement full of stuff.

There is also a school bus in a food cart pod on SE 11th & Clay. Don't know if it's still there, though.

Another option for cheap gear is the monthly REI sell-off. People camp overnight and battle in the morning for highly discounted stuff.
 
Johny said:
Jackson hole in the spring is fucking awesome! !!
All the billionaire yuppies sell off there stuff (some with tags still on it) super cheap.
They have to buy all new hiking /camping gear and ski/snowboard gear every year to keep up with the Jones's kinda thing
Click to expand...

Same with the Aspen area, Colorado..the best thrift shops are in Glenwood Springs and there's a huge one in New Castle. There's others that are closer to aspen..carbondale, basalt...but you're gonna pay more for the same shit.
 
as a veteran, If i am in need of gear I go to see the Homeless vet rep at any VA clinic in the town I am near. As veteran you can usually coma away with military surplus gear, food, fuel chits, bus tickets, and meal vouchers good at any VA hospital
 
tiltedkitten said:
I just feel like there ought to be some kind of resource list for getting sleeping bags, boots, coats, packs etc for free or really extremely cheap thrift stores around the country
Click to expand...

Hey! Great topic. I know of a few:
Urban Peak in Denver for homeless youth caps at 25
SPY in Venice caps at 25 Safe Place for Youth
Ocean Beach San Diego has many programs set up for us kids at Episcopal Church on Sunset Cliffs Blvd. They even give kids free instruments.
Most metro cities have resources for us.
All the ones I mentioned provide clothes, food, sleeping bags, bags, tarps, vouchers, etc.
Also mad props to Pets of the Homeless . Com for lacing our new puppy Karma with a 100% free comprehensive vet visit with shots and everything!
Much love
HOBO Helping Other Brothers Out
 
Ok, I know I am going to get shit for this but...

Guys, please don't post about specific shelters/missions/feeds here. That will totally destroy some good spots that locals of the area rely on. I can give COUNTLESS examples just in Oregon alone that have been fucked by people bragging about them.

Do as everyone else does. Stumbled upon awesome spots as you travel, and keep them to yourself, or share them with close friends.
 
does kind of take away from the discovery of it doesn't it? when every answer is in writing. What remains new?
 
Most well populated places have a "mission" or churches that will hand out some great stuff! I have found that it's the food banks that will come with area and id restrictions. There are at least 2 churches n Minneapolis that have tents and sleeping bags, upon availability.​
 
I saw so many hikers get rid of gear on the PCT. Good, Expensive gear. It was mind blowing how much gear people got rid of bc it was too heavy or they just didn't need it. Beware of some cocky ass hikers trying to discourage you from taking it, as I had happen once before.
 
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