Sabien Brown explains the items that are in his store, Sabien Speciality Services.
The outside of the store.
Sabien Speciality Services is offering free food and water.
‘Free store’ opens in Abbeville
While many 20-year-olds are sitting home this summer trying to figure out their next move in life, Abbeville’s own Sabien Brown moves forward by helping his neighbors.
Three weeks ago, Brown opened a “free store” to help his community.
Brown and members of the Abbeville community held a ribbon cutting on Monday at his store, Sabien Speciality Services, located on 803 North Lamar Street (behind SLCC).
It is open on Tuesdays and Fridays and contains toiletries, canned food, baby products, second-hand clothing, shoes and other household items.
Walk-in, look around and take whatever you need, Brown said. It is all free.
Brown, an Abbeville High graduate, always had the idea to open a business with free stuff and watching how everyone, including large companies, waste and throw things away. He wanted some of those items to hand them over to people who need them.
“Living where I live, you can see things,” said Brown. “Residents have a lack of resources, and I want to fill that void.”
Thus far, it is working.
He has watched items such as toiletries fly off the shelf. Yet, he can stay ahead by restocking the shelves with donated items.
“It is going great,” he said. “I am getting a lot of support from the community.”
Brown is the only employee of the store and does not receive any salary for his work. One day, his dream is to increase the size of the building to increase the number of donated items to give away.
He has no limit on how much someone can take or how many times they can visit the store.
Since opening the business three weeks ago, he has seen a lot. But, the biggest thing that he has learned is the person who needs the most items, take the least, he said.
“People who need stuff take the least,” he said. “Those who do not have a desire for it take the most. I am not sure why. I guess the homeless person who needs it the most is beat down and does not want to take a lot.”
It does not bother him how many items people take or do not take.
“I am here to help any way I can,” said the 20-year-old.