Everything in the NoCo CommUNITY Store is free. No identification required. No income verification. No names. No questions asked. Just a warm welcome and access to the necessities of life: food, hygiene items, clothing and community.
“We feel people should have what they need,” Elizabeth Falkenberg, a volunteer at the store, said. Offering mutual aid and serving anyone in Northern Colorado, the NoCo CommUNITY Store occupies about 1,500 square feet on the ground floor of a building just off of U.S. Highway 287 near the border of Loveland and Fort Collins. The space was donated by Laura Christian, owner of All Star Cleaning Services.
After only being open about one week, the response from the community has been tremendous. About 30 to 40 people came to shop on opening day, and they’ve had a steady stream of 15 to 20 people per day since. The store is only open a few days a week right now: on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m., Tuesdays from 2 to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. But it could open more as word spreads and more volunteers offer to help…