Mayo's 'free store' a big draw for locals and visitors

The village of Mayo maybe small, but its "free store" is proving to be a big draw, for locals and visitors.

The facility, which also includes a recycling centre, sits in the centre of town. It is financed by the village, and is run by a single employee, Pat Donnelly. 

Donnelly says the value of the free store to the town is "considerable."

"If we had a fire, and it burned down, people would miss it.

"We have a lot of visitors, and you know, tourists stop here, it's a natural place, it's close to the park, so children come here."

The free store is a draw, but the recycling centre is the bread-and-butter of the operation and so Donnelly spends most of his time sorting recyclables.

Sometimes, he can't keep up with donations to the free store.

People drop bags on the porch of the centre when it's closed. Every item must be sorted and cleaned before it is displayed, and if Donnelly can't get to it all, some goes to the landfill. 

He says this time of year is particularly busy, because many people are spring cleaning.

"Yeah, busy time, busy time. That's why, this week, we've had two of us here. My boss is generously helping us out this week over here, just to cover the insane work load since the snow started to leave."

A mix of customers

Donnelly's boss is Scott Hamilton, Mayo's manager of public works. He believes the free store has a good reputation outside of Mayo, because it is so well-run.

"We serve the surrounding villages such as Elsa, Keno City, Stewert Crossing and Pelly and Carmacks," he said. 

Hamilton said that's good, because then kids from different communities don't have to worry about wearing their peers' discarded clothes to school the next day, like kids in Mayo would have to.

Donnelly said he's seen a real mix of people in the free store, from deputy ministers, to Eric Fairclough, chief of the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation, to musician Kim Barlow.

"We've had quite a few people come and compliment us on our free store," he said.

Donnelly's favourite part of his job is organizing the books.

When he first started out, there weren't any bookshelves. Now a quarter of the store is floor to ceiling of well-ordered books — a book for everyone, Donnelly said.

"And the way it works," he said, "the more bookshelves you build, the more books will come to live on your bookshelves."

He defies anyone to come to the Mayo free store and leave empty-handed.