The Free Box is Free Once More

August 30, 2021

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Four people organize colorful painted boxes under a rustic wooden awning. The boxes are labeled for different donations like books and clothes. Walls display various signs and notices. One person wears a high-visibility vest, and another holds a trash bag.

By Julia Caulfield

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The Free Box is free once more.

Boarded up in March 2020, it was one of the first local casualties of the COVID pandemic. Now, a year and a half later, the community institution is reopened.

“I couldn’t be happier.” Says Becky Boehm, Free Box Supervisor, “I was heartbroken the day it got closed, and I had no idea I’d be standing here, on the of the people opening it back up. I’m just thrilled and couldn’t be happier. This is a dream come true.”

The boards come down, and sat in the cubbies is over a year of discarded clothes, some toys, and dust. A lot of dust. It’s a time capsule of sorts. The items are what sat in the Free Box in March 2020. Not all of the relics are treasures.

“There’s some trash in here, some mismatched shoes,” says Boehm, “definitely there’ some stuff we wouldn’t recommend leaving – underwear, we don’t need to have that.”

It’s a good reminder of how to love the free box the right way.

“A good motto to keep in mind is, ‘share respectfully’. Don’t bring items you wouldn’t wear or that are stained or are ripped – clothing wise,” notes Boehm, “please no electronics. We’re trying to keep items off the sidewalks, just in the box only. No trash, this isn’t a trash dump. No paints, no furniture, be respectful. Think about it being your home. If we can all treat it and love it just the same, and respect it the way it should be, I think it’s going to be a big success.”

As the boards come down a local or two peak around Pine Street to witness the moment. Local artist Brandon Berkel comes to collect one of the mural that adorned the plywood panels.

“This is so exciting,” exclaims one passerby. “I’m not going to overload   it; I hope people don’t. I just have a couple little things.”

As for Boehm, she has a small pile of items waiting to put in the free box, and she’s keeping her eye out as well.

“A winter coat and winter boots, that’s what I’m looking for,” she chuckles.

The pandemic may not be over, but signs of the funky weird Telluride are coming back to life. One Telluridians trash can be another’s treasure once more.

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