I think that Alex became so emotional about the services she and Morgan were offered at the free store, because in our society today, the is a dehumanization of the poor. They are treated like dirt, and not real human beings. The genuine kindness and help that they got at the Free store was something very unexpected, and something that went against the grain of the poor experience. In addition, it provided a sense of stability in there lives, and the furnishings provided helped to make the dingy little apartment they were staying in become a home. It gave them a home, and a real place of comfort to come back to at the end of their long and strenuous days.