Free Stuff! Ribbon Cut For New Summit Free Market Building

SUMMIT, NJ — The Summit Conservancy and city of Summit celebrated the completion of construction of the new Summit Free Market Building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday.

At the market, people can come get used items from community members, thus reducing waste. The hours of the facility and information about an event this Saturday can be found here.

Mayor Nora Radest joined the Summit Conservancy Board of Trustees to cut the ceremonial ribbon and applaud the accomplishment.

The Summit Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting environmental projects and sustainability in Summit, spearheaded the fundraising effort and design for the building and managed its construction.

Since 2008, the Summit Free Market has kept more than 160 tons of reusable material from the waste stream, saving the City of Summit more than $40K in tipping fees over the 12-year period.

The city of Summit provided grant money and in-kind contributions to further offset the amount needed to complete the project.

The Summit Foundation, The Mary Reinhart Stackhouse Foundation, Investors Foundation, The Head Family Foundation, First Energy Foundation, and The George W. Bauer Family Foundation all provided grant monies in support of the project.

More than 250 individuals and families also contributed to the $375,000 goal needed to construct a permanent home for the student-run Summit Free Market reuse initiative.

The building opened to the public, by appointment only in keeping with social-distancing guidelines, the morning after the ceremony.

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