Melanie and Mark Burr, who manage and operate the Totally Free Clothes Store in Shelby, standing beside their sign advertising who they are and what they do. The store is located at 318 Gidney Street. (photos by Michael E. Powell/CF Media)

Located in a small brick building at 318 Gidney Street in Shelby, the Totally Free Clothes Store is still going about the business of being a blessing to the many folks it helps daily.
Well... almost daily, as they are closed on Wednesdays, according to N.C. natives Melanie and Mark Burr, who run the place.
Melanie said she has been affiliated with the store for five years, when it was over by the Food Lion on S. Lafayette St., and Mark noted he has been working with her for about two years now. They said they have about 20 volunteers who help them operate the store.
"We have some that work a particular day of the month and some who come in when they can," said Melanie.
As per their small handout, "...each person (who comes to the store) may get 20 items per month absolutely FREE!" There are some restrictions however; they only allow 15 people in the store at any one time (because of the store's size); and anyone shopping in the store must have an ID or something with their name on it, such as a driver's license or piece of mail like a utility bill or something similar.
The two noted the store has many volunteers from local churches, they do have many different volunteers who reach out to them to help in the store.
"Everything you see in here has been donated," said Mark. "Shelving, hangars, plastic bags, boxes. You name it; it has been donated."
On one of the handouts folks are given when they enter the store it is noted they are "looking" for volunteers.
"We allow each shopper, or person, to get 20 items of clothing and shoes per month free," said Melanie. "In 2024, we gave away over 177,000 items to those in need." Mark said that amount included not just clothes but shoes and accessories for people of all ages.
The Burrs said they are there, with their volunteer helpers, "pretty much every day of the week." The store is open from 10 a.m., to 3:45 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Additionally, said Mark, they do work with the court system and have community service workers as part of their volunteer staff.
Also helping the duo is a new marketing manager, Cat Wesson, who, like the Burrs, is a full-time volunteer.
Said Mark, "the main things we need right now are more volunteers and some form of steady funding." Melanie added, "And we would like to get a van donated to the store or a grant with which to buy one."
She continued, "What we do here...it's not just about us getting volunteers, although they are very important. It's about helping people. As for funding, our marketing manager, Cat Wesson, is currently working with local colleges and high schools to procure funding as well as more volunteers."
The store does a mobile clothes ministry every Thanksgiving and Melanie noted she works with Elizabeth Elementary School in giving clothes to children there who may have a need. She noted also they work with the Veteran's Administration, out of Asheville.
Mark said, "There are a lot of kids, a lot of people, out there who don't have clothes, or backpacks, or even sleeping bags if they have to sleep outside. If we have those, we give them out as well."
Mark noted they consider themselves a Christian, or faith-based, store. To that end, they have no revenue, so everything that comes in, he said, "...goes out by way of giving back to the community via the free giveaway program."
"When you get everything in for free; you give it away for free," said Mark.
When asked why folks had to have an ID, the Burrs noted that in the past, when they first started, "...we were giving away so many clothes that folks would come in and take items, then later sell them to someone else."
It's nothing, said Melanie, for them to have as many as 200-plus people come in on a daily basis, which has facilitated their having to limit how many folks can be in the building at any one time.
Mark and Melanie are most proud of the fact their store and the volunteers feel as if they are a family.
"We consider everybody in here part of the family," he said. Melanie added, "Our volunteers work very hard! We are all tired at the end of the day, but it's all worth it."
"That's right," said Mark. "One of our most rewarding things is someone coming in and telling us how wonderful this place is and how they've been helped."
Mark and Melanie stress the store isn't affiliated with any church or group, adding the store and its mission/ministry is where they "...need to grow." They will admit they would like to be in a larger facility, however, as they appear to be outgrowing even this one, as it is.
"I don't mind asking for things," stated Melanie. "We have grown, yes. But we would like a larger space, in order to give out more food."
For those who wish to help, or want to help the store on a daily or weekly basis, please contact Mark and Melanie at either (704) 692-2389, or (704) 418-2734, or email them at total
lyfreeclothes@gmail.com. They also have Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App, said Melanie.
You can also find them on Facebook at @shelby
freeclothes, or visit them at www.totallyfreeclothess
helby.org, or just go by the store and check it out.