DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) -- A vacant Delaware property will soon be home to a nonprofit's new "free store," offering clothing, shoes and other household items for free. Delaware's planning commission approved a plan by Common Ground Ministries on Dec. 4 to build a two-story building on a 0.42-acre site at 153 E. Winter St. in the city's historic district. While the second floor will be office space, the first floor will house the organization's free store where clothing, shoes, household items, toys, book and meals will be given away free of charge. Ohio-based furniture store to lay off employees at its Delaware headquarters "At Common Ground Free Store, everything is free," the company's site states. "No income requirements, no questions, and no scrutiny, only the support of folks who care. Common Ground offers a sense of community and a safe, warm, and welcoming space for anyone regardless of circumstances." Common Ground's plan calls for a two-story building at 153 E. Winter St. (Delaware Planning Commission) The organization's proposal comes after it purchased the Delaware property in February for $98,000, according to the Delaware County Auditor's Office. Common Ground's plan also calls for the building to include a sorting area for donations, a kitchen, laundry room, and a coffee bar and café. Founded in 2006 by members of William Street United Methodist Church, Common Ground currently operates a donation center across the street from the vacant site at 147 E. Winter St. and another free store at 183 E. Central Ave. More than 11% of those in Delaware County, about 24,000 people, live 200% below the federal property level, Common Ground's site states. By providing free clothing and household items, Common Ground "helps take some of the burden off, so the savings can pay for housing, food, utilities, childcare, transportation, and health services." Columbus toy inventor’s idea becomes thriving business, plans national expansion About 1,215 families received more than 168,000 items in 2023 from Common Ground, including 74, 657 pieces of clothing, 21,383 shoes and socks, 9,052 pairs of underwear, 24,880 diapers and 23,684 meals. The organization's current free store and donation center are open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday with the store reopening from 6 to 8 p.m., and then from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.