you are the help that is on the way
The Old Southside Free Store
We run a monthly pop up free store, along with offering crisis intervention in a historically underserved, high crime neighborhood near downtown Indianapolis.
The pop up store is an opportunity for neighbors to pick up life saving supplies like blankets and first aid kits, and to share a hot meal that we cook each month. Sharing resources and breaking bread together deepens existing community networks and provides an opportunity to forge new ones.
You can help us help our neighbors in two easy ways: you can set up a one-time or recurring monthly cash donation, or you can visit our Amazon wishlist to buy supplies like tents and soap. Both ways help us keep people safe, warm, and fed during hard times.
Why We Do This Work
Many members of our community go without basic necessities due to a lack of resources. We decided to help by opening a free store where people can get what they need without any cost or judgement. We believe that everyone deserves to be safe, warm, and fed. By working together, we make our neighborhood a kinder place for those going through a hard time.
Our Store
Essential Supplies
We give out essential survival gear such as tents, blankets, sunscreen, and clothing. We also have hygiene items like soap, toothbrushes, and body wipes along with ready to eat food and other supplies.
Harm Reduction
We provide Narcan and safe use supplies in an effort to keep people alive. We partner with experts like Overdose Lifeline to help stop overdoses in our area. We believe that drug use should not be a death sentance.
A Warm, Fresh Meal
Every time we open, we cook a hot meal to share with our friends. It is a time for us to break bread together and build a strong, caring community.
5
Free store events held since December 2025
$0.00
The price our neighbors pay for any survival gear or food at our store
150+
Warm meals prepared and shared with friends so far
100%
Amount of donated supplies that go to neighbors in need at no cost to them
How neighbors joined together to save many lives.
In 2025, we noticed many residents of The Old Southside neighborhood in dowtown Indianapolis were housing insecure and struggling to survive. At that same time, there was a drastic increase in drug overdoses. We knew we had to act fast to protect our community. We partnered with local experts to learn how to keep everyone safe and provide the right kind of care.
We began collecting simple things like warm hats, tents, and soap to give away for free. We also began responding to overdose and other crises, and distributing Narcan and other safe use supplies. This small effort turned into the Old Southside Free Store in December 2025. To keep our friends safe, we share our location through whisper networks. This helps us make sure the supplies get to the people who truly need them the most without putting anyone at greater risk of harm.
You can help our store in two easy ways. You can give money on our Donate page to help us buy gear, or buy items from our Amazon wishlist that come straight to us. Both ways help us give out everything from tents to hot meals. We are just neighbors helping neighbors, and we want you with us.
Why the Old Southside?
The Old Southside is a historically under-served, high-crime neighborhood near downtown Indianapolis, where many of the long term residents face housing insecurity and difficulty meeting basic needs. It is also an area known for heavy drug use, gun violence, and it is a food desert.
The Old Southside is also uniquely in need of dynamic, dedicated, on-the-ground support because many residents never voluntarily leave the two mile by two mile square they reside in, some for as long as a decade. With very few remaining resources of any kind in the neighborhood, this presents a unique challenge in ensuring that residents have access to the help they need.
Our mutual aid project focuses here because these are our neighbors; we know the streets and we know the people by name. We are committed to keeping our unique little community safer, warmer, and fed through direct engagement and collective care.
Two Simple Ways You Can Help Today
You can help our neighbors in two great ways. First, you can donate money directly (choose between a one-time or monthly donation) so we can buy what is needed most. Second, you can visit the link to buy supplies from our Amazon wishlist to be sent right to us. Every single gift helps us keep people safe and fed.
Common Questions
How do I find the free store?
We serve a vulnerable group in a high-crime area, so we use whisper networks for everyone's safety. Especially as laws around harm reduction and homelessness change (go out and vote, etc.), we need to make sure we are not bringing unwanted attention to the people who we serve. If you are an Old Southside resident in need, please reach out via email, social media DM, or ask around for Fancy.
How can I donate supplies?
We try to stay in touch with what our neighbors need specifically, so the best way to help is through our Amazon wishlist. You can pick out items like hats, water, or soap, and they will be sent to us to give away. We also have one-time and monthly cash donation options.
What items do you give away?
We give out outdoor survival gear like tents and blankets, hygiene tools like toothbrushes and soap, and harm reduction supplies like Narcan. We have ready to eat food and cook a fresh, hot meal to share with everyone who comes to see us at the monthly pop up store events. We also do overdose and other crisis intervention as needed.
Is this a registered nonprofit?
We are a small mutual aid project right now. We are currently waiting for our official 501c3 status. For now, we are just a group of dedicated neighbors working together to meet basic needs and provide care to our community.
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