‘Extra place of community’: Lincoln’s Community Free Market celebrating 13 years of helping those in need

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Community Free Market is celebrating 13 years of serving those in the capital city.

Over time, the market has grown from a small neighborhood swap to a staple for hundreds of people.

“There may be people out there that have a lot more need and there may be people out there that have a lot more abundance,” said Lacey Losh, one of the organizers. “So if we can bring those people together, it just seems to even out the needs of a lot of people in the neighborhood and community.”

Everyone in the community is welcome and everything is free.

The events are hosted by local volunteers in partnership with the Lincoln Tree of Hope and Lincoln’s Little Free Libraries.

Losh said it’s about more than sharing goods, it’s about making sure everyone has access to what they need.

“We saw a need in the community and we just thought that there’s a way we can bridge that gap,” she said. “A lot of people have an overabundance like garden produce for example, especially this time of year. It’s really nice to be able to bring it to a central location like this and have the people that have a need for that be able to take advantage.”

The market also offers free voter registration services in an effort to share resources and build relationships.

Losh said they want to be an outlet for anyone who needs a place to go.

“A lot of people are looking for just that extra place of community where you’re going to see friends, you get a little bit of social interaction as well as not just the physical items but you get emotional support and seeing regular people who care about your well being,” she said.

And she said they are hopeful for the next thirteen years.

“I love hearing a kid say ‘I started coming to these when I was little’ and now they’re in high school or graduating,” she said. “It’s been a part of our community long enough at this point that kids are recognizing it as a thing that exists, and I think that’s a really good way to continue the legacy.”