About the Community Space
The Community Space in Whitewater was co-founded by Kay Robers, Marjorie Stoneman, and Kristine Zaballos and opened its doors during a Polar Vortex on Jan. 29, 2019. Cindy Wendt has been a core member of the team since the beginning.
TCS offers clothing, food, housewares, furniture and myriad other items free of charge to all, without income, residency or other limitations. All are welcome. Initially, serving as a food pantry was not a primary concern — we gave out just 30,000 pounds of food in 2019. During the pandemic, however, we needed to pivot to provide massive quantities of free, fresh donated food that might have otherwise gone to waste. In 2000 and every year since then, we’ve given out more than 250,000 pounds of food!
In 2024 we counted about 25,000 visitors to TCS, fed about 350 families a week and gave out 250,000 pounds of food, 150,000 items of clothing, and countless pieces of furniture, bedding, books, housewares and other items. Find out more in our 2024 annual report.
Until recently, we had no paid staff: all this has been fueled by more than 16,000 volunteer hours a year. Now we have a full-time general manager, Cindy Wendt, who is able to run our operations more efficiently, organize our volunteers, and take advantage of opportunities — such as a donated delivery van — that come up.
We are 100% donation-funded. Because we take no public funds or grants with limitations on how the money is used, we are able to be flexible on how we serve the community that comes through our doors.
TCS also hosts other resources, such as ESL classes, bilingual health resources staff from the county departments of health, bilingual legal clinics, and vaccination clinics, among others.
Our mission
Our mission is simple: gather food, clothing, furniture, housewares and more, and make them available free of charge, with no residency, income, or other requirements.
Whether you’re seeking something that brightens your day, or you’re looking to give something you no longer need — we’re here for it. From that barely-used sports gear, to the puzzle you finished, to the can of soup you never opened — we’re a place of reuse and access.
Who we are
The Community Space is a welcoming, open-door resource where people share things, and everyone — regardless of income, family status or where they live — is welcome.
We believe in putting community into practice: by sharing food and other resources, by re-using clothing and furniture, and by welcoming everyone’s contribution.
What to expect
When you come to the Community Space, you’ll be greeted by a volunteer and asked if it’s your first visit. If it is, we’ll take a moment to give you a brief orientation of the space: what we offer, where you’ll find bags to collect items, and how to be placed on the waiting list for larger items like beds and sofas. After that, we’ll leave you alone unless you have any questions.
If you choose to pick up some food in our pantry area, we’ll ask you to stick to the item limits indicated on the shelves, refrigerator and freezer, and when you are done we’ll weigh the food for our records and ask you just two questions: what zip code you live in and how many people at home you are collecting food for.
This information is just for our records. No ID or proof of anything is required. You can come as often as you like, and you are welcome and encouraged to take things you need when you are donating items or to bring things you no longer need when you are picking things up.
How to get involved
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Donate items
We accept pretty much anything — food, toiletries, clothing, housewares, linens, toys, books, electronics, games, and furniture.
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Volunteer
All of our work is done by volunteers, and dedicated help is always needed. Contact if you are interested in joining The Community Space.
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Monetary support
Monetary donations fuel all that we do, and donations are tax-deductible. You can send a check c/o P.O. Box 213, Whitewater, WI 53190.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We’re located at:
The Community Space
834 East Milwaukee Street, Whitewater, WI 53190
We’re in the former Coburn Company. When donating items, please drive around to the back of the building and ring the doorbell so a volunteer can assist you.
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Our current open hours are:
Tues: 8:30-11 am
Wed: 3:30-7 pm
Sat: 8:30 am-noon
If these hours don’t work for you, call 262-379-0187 to request a different time to donate items. We are closed on holidays.
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No. There are no requirements, no income checks, and no ID is ever needed. Everyone is welcome, and you may visit as often as you need.
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A volunteer will greet you and ask if it’s your first time. If it is, they’ll give you a brief orientation — where to find different items, how to gather what you need, and how to join the waiting list for larger items such as beds, sofas, or dressers. After that, you’re free to browse at your own pace.
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Yes. Everything in the Community Space is free. For food items, we ask that you follow the item limits posted on pantry shelves, refrigerators, and freezers so that all families can access what they need.
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At checkout, volunteers will weigh your food for record-keeping only. We also ask two simple questions: your zip code and the number of people in your household. This information helps us understand community needs, apply for grants, and plan inventory — never to verify eligibility.
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As often as you need. There are no limits on the number of visits.
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Absolutely. You are welcome to donate things you no longer need and take home items that will be useful to you in the same visit. That’s part of what makes the Community Space a true sharing community.
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We accept most household items, clothing, shoes, linens, toiletries, food, books, games, small appliances, working electronics, medical equipment, and furniture (including mattresses).
We cannot accept older, non–flat screen TVs or items in poor condition.
If you’re unsure, call us at 262-379-0187 or email us—our volunteers are happy to help.
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Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to offer home pick-ups at this time.
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Bring donations during open hours (listed on the homepage). Drive to the back of the building and ring the doorbell — a volunteer will assist you. If you need a tax receipt, just let us know. If our normal hours don’t work for you, contact as at 262-379-0187 or info@tcswhitewater.com to arrange another time.
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During your visit, let a volunteer know that you’re interested in being added to the waiting list. When a large item becomes available, we’ll reach out.
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Yes. Every item, every visit, and every service is completely free. The Community Space is 100% donation-funded and volunteer-run. If you’d like to support the space, you can donate food, goods, time, or monetary gifts—but there is never any obligation.
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We would love that. Volunteers help sort donations, greet visitors, stock shelves, organize items, and support community programs. No experience is required. Reach out to info@tcswhitewater.com
or 262-379-0187 to learn more.