Question 1

What is Worthwhile Mercantile?

Accepted Answer

Worthwhile Mercantile is a free community store where people can get food, clothing, household goods, hygiene items, and other essentials. Everything is provided through donations and shared with neighbors who need them.  The Mercantile is the storefront and headquarters of Worthwhile Talent, a Talent-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2023 to facilitate the exchange of free food and essentials and build a stronger, more connected Talent.

Question 2

Is this a food pantry?

Accepted Answer

Partially yes. The Mercantile does offer food - both perishable and non-perishable - but it's more than a traditional food pantry. We also provide clothing, shoes, hygiene & household products, and other practical items to help stretch tight household budgets, and we offer a place for people to engage with their community that doesn't require spending money.

NOTE: We do not often get dairy or meat products, so if those are your main needs right now, we recommend visiting the ACCESS Talent Food Pantry, the 1st Phoenix Community Center, or the Ashland Community Food Bank.

Question 3

Is everything really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes! There are no prices on anything and no checkout. We believe that everyone should have access to basic living necessities when times are tough.

Question 4

Where does everything in the free store come from?

Accepted Answer

The food mostly comes from the Talent Food Project (aka the green bag program) and the Ashland Food Angels, which rescues usable food from grocery stores in Ashland. Everything else is donated by customers, volunteers, individual supporters, local businesses, and charity organizations who believe in neighbors helping neighbors.

The funds to purchase some bulk items like shampoo and detergent, as well as the rent, supplies and equipment needed to run the store, come from small foundation grants and individual donors. Worthwhile does not receive any government support and does not have a consistent primary funding source - just a whole bunch of people in the community chipping in to make it work. It’s pretty wonderful.

Question 5

Who can shop at Worthwhile?

Accepted Answer

Anyone experiencing financial hardship or who could use a little extra help with groceries & clothes is welcome to take what they need. We don’t ask for income information because we trust people to know their own situations and to not take advantage of the community’s generosity if it’s not really needed.

Question 6

Do I have to live in Talent?

Accepted Answer

Our purpose is to be a reliable resource to the people of Talent, but we do our best to help others as inventory allows.  We generally do not turn away people who come to us in need of groceries. In times of disruption that create high demand and limited supply, we may need to prioritize Talent residents above non-residents.

Question 7

Do I have to prove that I am low income?

Accepted Answer

No lengthy paperwork or income/address verification is required. We try to keep barriers low and make it easy for people to get what they need. We do ask that if you plan to visit more than once that you fill out our registration form so that we can get to know you and better understand community needs and challenges. We do not share or sell that information nor do we do any marketing with it, and we will not contact you directly unless it’s necessary.

Question 8

How often can I shop?

Accepted Answer

You are welcome to visit 1 day per calendar week during open hours, either Monday OR Saturday.

Question 9

How much can I take?

Accepted Answer

The current limit is: 
10 Food Items and 10 Non-Food Items 
Produce, Cans, and Clothes do NOT count toward that 10 & 10 limit

In general we ask shoppers to take what they need to get them through the next week or so and to not stock up for later. We'll be here next week too!

Some high-demand/low-supply items (like toilet paper, cat food) may have lower limits so what we have in stock is available to more people.

Question 10

Can I take things for someone else?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you're shopping for a family member, neighbor, or friend who cannot come in themselves, that's fine.  If you will be regularly shopping for another household we ask that they fill out a registration form with their info as well so that we know more about who we’re serving.

Question 11

What if I am not able to shop in person?

Accepted Answer

You can have someone else pick up stuff for you, or you can sign up for our home box delivery program once that is active. If you qualify for the service, a volunteer will be assigned to bring you a box of food and household/personal care items every other week. This program is in development as of June 2026. Please send us an email at info@worthwhiletalent.org if you want to be notified as soon as the applications are open.

Question 12

How can I get there if I don’t drive?

Accepted Answer

This is definitely the downside to being located where we are now.  It’s not a quick and easy walk, especially in the heat!  The RVTD bus does drop off and pickup within a couple of blocks (Creel or Arnos), however there is no crosswalk in this section of Hwy 99 so crossing the street is risky.  We are actively working on ways to bring a mobile version of the Mercantile to the downtown area, stay tuned for that.  And in the meantime, if you have any suggestions please let us know!

Question 13

Can I request something you don't have?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there is a suggestion/donation box in the shop so you can do so anonymously, or just talk to a volunteer and they can add it to the list. You can also send an email to info@worthwhiletalent.org. Of course we can't promise we'll be able to get it, but we welcome suggestions and requests because they help us understand community needs.

Question 14

Can I sell things I get from the Mercantile?

Accepted Answer

No, don’t do that please. Items in our shop are intended for personal or household use by neighbors who are in need. Reselling donated goods undermines the generosity of the community and reduces the availability of donated resources to the people who actually need them. If we find out that you are selling items you get from Worthwhile we will have to restrict your visits.

Question 15

What kinds of donations/support do you accept?

Accepted Answer

You can donate food and goods, make financial contributions, or simply help spread the word. Follow us on Facebook, re-post coming events and donation needs, let your friends and neighbors know we are there. Every small act of support helps strengthen our resource reserves.

We keep a monthly Donation Needs list updated here and a list of the TYPES of items we collect here. Please check with us before bringing large quantities or unusual items. We are never able to take furniture, appliances, kitchen supplies, home decor, or toys. Needs do change over time, so feel free to ask a volunteer what would be most helpful.

Please DO NOT DROP OFF anything outside when no one is there! This is very important for preventing rodents, waste and dump fees. We will not be able to give out items that are left outside the shop overnight.

Question 16

Can I volunteer?

Accepted Answer

Maybe! Volunteer opportunities vary. You are always welcome to fill out our registration form here and when we are in need of help we will reach out. We prioritize our customers who want to give back to the Worthwhile community by volunteering, but we often have needs (like special events, food drives, home-based work and backup/on-call roles) that require us to reach out to those outside of our customer base who have expressed interest in getting involved.

Good To Know! (Quick Answers to FAQ)