I'm not sure who said it but the idea was that local people have local solutions. and that is exactally what this organization is, www.freestorebaltimore.org.
This organization makes sense, it provides an answer to a social issue

"In a Nutshell:

We promote RECYCLING & REUSE. We are tired of so much usable, useful stuff going to waste while people live in poverty in our city. That’s why we want to empower COMMUNITIES to come together and meet these needs through giving and taking.

It’s really a very simple concept: take what you want, give what you can.

We redistribute goods to empower, improve and support communities.."