The Free Stuff Guys, who have been out on Smith Plaza every Thursday for 2 1/2 years, might stop serving students.
On April 2, about 40 students showed up to an event called Save the Free Stuff Guys at First Baptist Church on Broadway and Central avenues. Students gathered on the lawn at 7 p.m., and the Free Stuff Guys offered pizza and music.
Kevin Linthicum, one of the Free Stuff Guys, is a staff member at the church. He said the group might stop giving out free stuff if students don't appreciate it.
Linthicum said after the event that he could not yet determine whether the Free Stuff Guys will continue their services on campus. He said the church would like to see more students responding in support of the Free Stuff Guys.
Linthicum and his team of two other men have been coming to campus on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon to hand out free things, including hot chocolate, cookies and candy, to any student who wants them.
Linthicum said the group doesn't want to waste energy on continuing the Free Stuff Guys events if they can reach students in some other way.
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"I love free stuff," said CNM student Malcolm McKenzie, who visits campus often. "I remember I got a doughnut one time that was an apple fritter."
Trevor Jordan, also on the Free Stuff Guys team, said he enjoys being on the other end of the exchange.
"I have made friends with a number of students and look forward to seeing them each week," he said.
Linthicum said he wants to reach out to students in a nonthreatening way. He said it's worthwhile to get to know students and that handing out free things each week is more effective than pointing out their faults.
"Principally speaking, a lot of people are brought up to believe nothing in life is free," he said. "But I believe there are things that are free."
Linthicum said each item costs $0.15 to $0.25, and the expenses are covered by the First Baptist Church College Ministry budget. Each week, the Free Stuff Guys hand out 1,500 to 2,000 items purchased from Sam's Club, he said.
Linthicum said the group hosted Thursday's pizza and music event because the church wanted to see how responsive students were to the Free Stuff Guys and the handouts.
The group wanted to find out if students would sacrifice one night for the Free Stuff Guys, he said.
When the band finished playing, Linthicum gave a short speech on why First Baptist representatives are coming to campus and why they hosted Thursday's event.
"It's about loving and caring about each student, and to talk about the truth," Linthicum said.
Jordan said the Free Stuff Guys also want to let students know that they can get other things for free.
"We're telling people why we're doing this because people don't believe anything in life is free," he said. "What we are doing is kind of a metaphor, because Christ is absolutely free."
Student Sarah Runh attended the event and said she was glad to hear Linthicum's short sermon.
"It's great. Students really need to hear about the Bible and everything they face," she said.
Linthicum said his team can form a connection with students on campus by distributing free stuff.
"I believe that students have a desire to be around genuine, authentic and real people," he said. "They don't see the relevance of Christianity; I believe it's really relevant."
